Swanage Neighbourhood Plan
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE DRAFT SWANAGE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The draft Pre-submission Swanage Neighbourhood Plan reaches public consultation stage.
Residents, businesses and community organisations are invited to have their say on the draft Swanage Neighbourhood Plan, which has now reached the formal Regulation 14 consultation stage. The Plan sets out a shared vision for the future development of Swanage and has been shaped by more than two years of research, evidence gathering and community engagement.
The draft Swanage Neighbourhood Plan has reached the formal pre-submission consultation stage (called Regulation 14), marking an important milestone in shaping the future development of the town.
The Plan has been developed over the past three years by a Steering Group comprising six town councillors and six community representatives with relevant skills and experience. The Group has been supported by Swanage Town Council's Planning and Community Engagement Manager and advised by planning consultants ONH Planning for Good.
Community representatives have included members of Sustainable Swanage, Planet Purbeck, the Purbeck Society, Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust, and the Swanage Community Housing Group.
The draft Plan has been informed by extensive research, evidence gathering and analysis, together with feedback from earlier community engagement undertaken between September and November 2025. Residents, businesses, community organisations and young people have all contributed their views, helping to shape the proposals now being presented for consultation.
Current Stage: Regulation 14 Consultation
The Plan is now at the Regulation 14 consultation stage. This is an important opportunity for residents, businesses, local organisations and statutory consultees to review the draft document and provide feedback before it is finalised.
Have Your Say!
We are inviting residents, businesses, community groups and anyone with an interest in Swanage to comment on the draft Neighbourhood Plan.
The full draft Plan, supporting documents, and online consultation survey are available at: www.swanageplan.co.uk
The survey allows you to comment on individual sections of the Plan and submit your views in a clear and structured way.
Your feedback will help shape the final version of the Plan before it is submitted to Dorset Council.
What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
A Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led planning document that helps guide future development in the town and ensures that change reflects the priorities of local residents and businesses.
National government has set targets for delivering substantial numbers of new homes across the country, and a Neighbourhood Plan cannot be used to prevent development from taking place. Planning policy is largely set at national and local authority levels, but a Neighbourhood Plan allows communities to influence how development is delivered locally and to establish priorities that reflect local needs.
The Swanage Neighbourhood Plan sets out a vision for the town to 2043 and can influence issues such as housing, the local economy, the design of new development, infrastructure, the protection of green spaces, community facilities, and heritage assets.
Once adopted, it will form part of the statutory development plan and be used by the local planning authority when determining planning applications.
For further information please visit:
The Local Development Scheme for Dorset Council March 2025 - Dorset Council
Dorset Council Local Plan consultation - Dorset Council
About the Plan
Extensive community engagement was undertaken between September and November 2025, including surveys and drop-in events organised by Dorset Coast Forum in partnership with the Steering Group. The results, available through Dorset Coast Forum's Dorset Coast Have Your Say webpage, have played an important role in shaping the objectives and policies within the draft Plan.
Dorset Council and a range of local stakeholders have also been consulted throughout the preparation of the Plan. Key evidence reviewed includes the Housing Needs Assessment (March 2024), the Swanage Seafront Masterplan (2025), and relevant technical studies prepared by Dorset Council for the adopted Purbeck Local Plan and the emerging Dorset Local Plan.
The Swanage Neighbourhood Plan is separate from the Dorset Local Plan. The Dorset Local Plan is prepared by Dorset Council and covers the whole Dorset Council area. Once adopted, it will replace both the Purbeck Local Plan and the Swanage Local Plan.
The Swanage Neighbourhood Plan covers the period 2026–2043 and focuses specifically on Swanage, reflecting the priorities identified by the local community.
The draft Plan was approved by Swanage Town Council for public consultation and is now being presented for community feedback.
Benefits of the Plan
Adopting the Plan will increase the town's share of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding from 15% to 25%, helping to secure additional investment for local projects and infrastructure, such as new sporting facilities at Days’ Park.
The Swanage Neighbourhood Plan provides an opportunity to shape proposed housing development through locally developed planning policies in a way that will not be possible through the Dorset Local Plan alone. For example, in relation to the land at Prospect Farm, the draft Plan proposes that a significant proportion of housing should be affordable housing for people with a strong connection to Swanage. This housing would be delivered through a community housing provider and managed by local people.
The Plan will also help to preserve policies that protect important green spaces and character areas within the town, including the De Moulham Estate and the Ballard Estate, which may otherwise not be carried forward when the Dorset Local Plan is adopted.
What Happens Next?
Following the Regulation 14 consultation:
- All comments will be reviewed by the Steering Group, Swanage Town Council, and the planning consultants (Summer 2026)
- The Plan will be revised where appropriate (Summer/Autumn 2026)
- The updated Plan will be submitted to Dorset Council for Regulation 15 consultation (Autumn 2026)
- Dorset Council will undertake a further Regulation 16 consultation and arrange an independent examination (Early 2027)
- Independent examination by a planning inspector (Spring 2027)
- If successful, Dorset Council will organise a local referendum. Residents will vote on whether the Plan should be adopted. If more than 50% of those voting support the Plan, Dorset Council will formally adopt it, and it will become part of the statutory development plan for the area (Spring/Summer 2027)
Find out more
Residents are invited to attend a series of community engagement events taking place at accessible venues throughout July:
- Monday 13th July – 4pm to 8pm
The Showbar, Mowlem Theatre, Shore Road, Swanage, BH19 1DD
- Tuesday 21st July – 2pm to 6pm
Emmanuel Baptist Church foyer, 160 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, BH19 1AZ
- Thursday 23rd July – 3pm to 7pm
All Saints Church Hall, 26 Ulwell Road, Swanage, BH19 1LL
- Friday 31st July – 9am to 12pm
Swanage Friday Market, Main Beach car park, Victoria Avenue, Swanage, BH19 1AP
We look forward to hearing your views and working together to help shape the future of Swanage.
