WELCOME

Our work on the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan has given us real insight into how Dorset’s planning system operates in practice. Much of what now appears in the Dorset Local Plan — particularly around Littlemoor and Preston — first took shape during that neighbourhood process. After years of reviewing evidence, policies, and consultations, we’ve seen how local plans evolve and the real impact they have on communities.

That’s why this site exists? There’s always a wider picture behind the headlines, and right now, that bigger picture is the Dorset Local Plan, a major consultation that will determine where homes, roads, and energy projects go across the county up to 2043.

In December 2024, then Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner issued a letter to every local authority leader and chief executive in England titled “Building the Homes We Need”. It set out the Government’s plan to raise national housing targets from 300,000 to 370,000 homes a year, backed by a so-called modernised Green Belt policy. In practice, it meant that councils are now under more pressure to open up land for development, pushing housing numbers to unprecedented levels and putting many of our green spaces at risk never to return!

This website builds on our neighbourhood plan experience to unpack the Local Plan: exploring what’s proposed, what it means for Littlemoor and Preston, and ultimately for every community across Weymouth and Dorset. It’s here to help residents understand the detail and have their say before decisions are made.

So, what is the Local Plan? Click below to start your journey, and keep in mind that while the public consultation has been extended and will now close at midnight on 31 October 2025.