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1.01 Poole Local Plan, adopted in August 1998, was the first statutory local
plan to cover the entire Borough and superseded the following statutory local
plans:-
i) The Poole Town Centre Local Plan (adopted 1987);
ii) The Broadstone-Creekmoor Local Plan (adopted 1987);
iii) The Poole Coastal Local Plan (adopted 1992);
iv) the area between Old Wareham Road and the Borough boundary was covered
by the Canford Heath Area Local Plan, which was abandoned. For the rest of the
Borough, the Town Map and non-statutory District Plan for Poole, Corfe Mullen
and Upton (1979) remained the basis for development control.
1.02 In reviewing the adopted Local Plan the Council decided that an
alteration to the Plan would be more appropriate than a replacement plan. This
is in accordance with Government guidance which indicates that a replacement
plan is appropriate when the existing plan is substantially out of date, whereas
an alteration to a plan is more suitable where a partial rolling forward of the
plan is required or where forecasts and assumptions have changed.
1.03 The Local Plan consists of a written statement (this document)
accompanied by a proposals map on an Ordnance Survey base. Statutory land use
policies are expressed in BOLD CAPITALS. Council intentions which are not
land use based are incorporated in the reasoned justification and are included
to give a full picture of the context in which land use policies have been
formulated.
1.04 Government guidance indicates that the functions of local plans are
to:-
“set out detailed policies and specific proposals for the development and
use of land, and should guide most day to day planning decisions. The
preparation of local plans gives local communities the opportunity to
participate in planning choices about where development should be accommodated
in their area…..”
1.05 Legislative changes and subsequent guidance have established the need for a
plan-led planning system in which development control decisions will be made in
accordance with the Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In
addition, development plans are expected to contribute to the Government’s
objectives of ensuring that development and growth are sustainable. This means
that the sum total of planning decisions should not deny future generations the
best of today’s environment.
1.06 In order to meet these expectations, the Poole Local Plan First Alteration
is both comprehensive and up to date, the background work undertaken during 1999
and 2000 being reflected in background papers which are published as
complementary to but not part of the Local Plan itself. They cover the following
topics: Housing; Economy; Transport; and the Central Area.
1.07 In addition, the Plan must be kept up to date if it is to remain relevant.
It will, therefore, be continuously monitored and formally reviewed within the
Local Development Framework.
1.08 The Borough of Poole as a Unitary Authority is the Local Planning
Authority for the Plan area.
Dorset County Council, Bournemouth Borough
Council and the Borough of Poole are responsible for the preparation of
structure plans and for the control of mineral extraction and waste disposal.
The Borough Council is responsible for the preparation, within the structure
plan framework, of local plans and for the administration of development control
generally. The Borough of Poole is also the Local Highway Authority and the
transportation aspects of the Poole Local Plan are the responsibility of the
Borough. The Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Local Transport Plan is jointly
prepared by Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset Councils.
1.09 The adopted Poole Local Plan conformed with the South East Dorset
Structure Plan First and Second Alterations, where the time horizon extended to
2001. It also had regard to the Regional Guidance issued by the Secretary of
State for the Environment in July 1994. The Strategic Planning Authorities of
Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole prepared the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole
Structure Plan, covering the period to 2011, which was adopted by the three
authorities in 2000. In addition, Regional Planning Guidance for the South West
was issued by the Secretary of State in 2001. There was, therefore, a need to
swiftly roll forward the Poole Local Plan to 2011 in order to conform with the
Structure Plan, taking into account regional issues where it was appropriate to
do so in advance of the current review of the Structure Plan to 2016.
1.10 The Council has followed the procedures for plan preparation as set out
in Planning Policy Guidance Note 12 on Development Plans, issued in December
1999. An Issues Paper was produced in July 1999, inviting comments from all
sectors of the community on the main issues identified for consultation:
Housing, Economy, Transport and the Central Area. In addition, a period of
ongoing consultation was carried out up to December 1999 and included workshops
and seminars with individuals, landowners, local groups, organisations and
businesses.
1.11 The First Deposit of the Poole Local Plan First Alteration was placed on
deposit and representations were received. There was a period between the first
and revised deposits to allow the Council to assess the objections made and
undertake a period of negotiation with objectors. A Revised Deposit of the Plan,
incorporating changes resulting from the First Deposit consultation was placed
on deposit and objections considered. A public inquiry was held into outstanding
objections at which objectors had the opportunity to put their case to an
independent Inspector who then made recommendations to the Council on any
modifications to the Local Plan that he considered were necessary. The Council’s
agreed modifications were advertised with formal objections invited. Objections
were considered and, with no further modifications considered to be necessary,
the Council then adopted the Plan. There was a short period for legal challenge
before the Local Plan acquired statutory status. The process and its timetable
are shown in Figure 1.1.
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