Bridport Town Council is set to finalise its response to Dorset Council's Local Plan draft next week and council representatives say they 'will seek the best for Bridport'.

The town council's planning committee will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, February 22 to review a draft response to a consultation being carried out by Dorset Council on the Local Plan. The council will also be producing a video highlighting the issues for the Bridport area, which will be released to residents.

The Dorset Council Local Plan sets out planning policies and allocations to meet the needs of the whole of the Dorset Council area from 2023 until 2038, covering issues such as housing, employment, the environment, transport and economy.

The plan includes a Bridport-specific chapter, which will guide the expansion of the town centre and the delivery of housing and other developments at Vearse Farm (760 homes consented with potential for more), land east of Bredy Vets, land to the west of the hospital, the ‘Gateway Care Village’, and St Michael’s Trading Estate among others.

David Rickard, the leader of Bridport Council, said: “The existing Local Plan is out of date and doesn’t adequately provide for the Bridport area, so progress towards a new plan is welcome. We’ve looked at the draft in a lot of detail and our response will seek the best for Bridport, as well as highlighting some county-wide issues – climate change, transport, and housing in particular.”

To accompany the formal response, the town council is producing a video summary of the Local Plan, urging residents to respond to Dorset Council’s consultation.

Planning Committee Chair Cllr Dave Bolwell said “We really need local people, businesses and organisations to respond to the consultation on behalf of the Bridport area, and to help us make sure the Town Council’s response is truly representative of the community. I’d encourage everyone to check out our draft response on the Town Council website, and to come along to our meeting on Monday and give your views.”

Full details of the Local Plan consultation, which closes on 15 March, can be found on the Dorset Council website at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-buildings-land/planning-policy/dorset-council-local-plan.aspx.

The Town Council’s draft response can be found, along with the joining details for Monday’s virtual Planning Committee at www.bridport-tc.gov.uk.