Broadwindsor Group Parish Council has been informed that Government funding to support Neighbourhood Plan reviews has been withdrawn. This decision will have a significant impact on our ability to update our Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted in 2019. We were preparing to review and refresh the plan to ensure that it continues to reflect the needs and priorities of our community, particularly in light of the rapidly changing planning landscape. However, the loss of designated funding makes this more difficult.

Why This Matters:

• Dorset Council is expected to allocate significantly more housing across the county than in previous years, under pressure from central government targets.
• Without an up-to-date Neighbourhood Plan, our ability to shape local development is weakened.
• We want to make sure that any future development in our parish is appropriate, sustainable, and reflects the wishes of our community.

What We’re Doing:

• Exploring other funding options to support the review process.
• Looking to work in partnership with other town and parish councils in Dorset who are in a similar position.
• Monitoring the development of the new Dorset Council Local Plan, which is expected to go out to public consultation soon.

Now, more than ever, it is important for communities like ours to stay involved and make our voices heard. We’ll share updates as soon as we have more information.