Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan

The Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan was officially 'made' by North Dorset District Council on 27 July 2018.

Following a majority 'yes' vote in the referendum, the decision was taken to make the Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for the Gillingham neighbourhood area.

This decision statement and the adopted Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan are available online and can be inspected 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Friday at:

Dorset Council
County Hall
Colliton Park
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1XJ

Referendum

The plan and the proposed modifications were reported to a NDDC Cabinet meeting on 29 May 2018.  Members decided that the neighbourhood plan, as modified, could proceed to referendum.  The referendum took place on 12 July 2018.  A majority (91%) voted for North Dorset District Council to use the neighbourhood plan to help decide planning applications in Gillingham.  Please see below for documents relevant to the referendum.

• A  Summary of Representations, received during the Regulation 16 consultation period (4 January to 15 February 2018) and submitted to the Examiner
• Examiner's Report, issued 4 April 2018
• The Gillingham - Dorset Neighbourhood Plan 2016 - 2031, as modified as a result of the examination
• The  Decision Statement (Referendum), which includes a statement by the local planning authority that the proposed plan with modifications meets the basic conditions
• The  Information Statement, which includes general information as to town and country planning including neighbourhood planning and the referendum.

Examiner's Report

David Kaiserman (BA Dip TP MRTP) issued his report on the submitted Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan on 4 April 2018. He concluded that provided the recommended modifications are made, the plan would meet the basic conditions. He therefore recommended that the plan, as modified, should proceed to a referendum. 

• Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan - Examiner's Report

Submission for Examination

In accordance with Regulation 17 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, the submitted plan, supporting documents, and all representations received during the 6-week consultation period were sent to an Independent Examiner (David Kaiserman).  The Examiner considers whether the plan meets certain basic conditions, satisfies legal requirements, and will identify an appropriate area for a referendum.

Consultation on the submitted plan

Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 requires North Dorset District Council to publicise and invite representations on the plan before the examination takes place.  The consultation period was between Thursday 4 January 2018 and Thursday 15 February 2018.  During this period, the following representations were received:

Submission documents

• Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan - Submission Draft (July 2017)
• Gillingham Neighbourhood Area Map (August 2012)
• Gillingham NP Consultation Statement (July 2017)
• Gillingham NP Basic Conditions Statement (updated November 2017)
• Gillingham NP Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment Determination Notice (April 2016)

Detailed maps extracted from the GNP submission draft

• Gillingham NP Character Map
• Gillingham NP Heritage Map
• Gillingham NP Local Green Space and Important Open Gap Map
• Gillingham NP Strategy Map
• Gillingham NP Town Centre Map

Supporting evidence

• Schedule of Evidence

Supporting evidence - chapters 1 to 4

• Gillingham NP Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report (January 2016)
• Area Profile for Gillingham (DCC, 2017)
• Assessing the growth potential of Gillingham (Atkins, 2009)
• North Dorset District Wide Local Plan 2003 - Gillingham Chapter
• North Dorset District Wide Local Plan 2003 - Proposals Map Sheets 1-4
• North Dorset Local Plan
• North Dorset Local Plan Part 1 2016 - changes to the proposals map
• National Planning Policy Framework (2012)

Supporting evidence - chapter 5

• Community Action Plan (Three Rivers Community Partnership, 2012)
• Gillingham Southern Extension Concept Plan Workshop (ATLAS, 2013)
• Gillingham NP - Report on the visioning workshop (ATLAS, 2012)
• South Gillingham Master Plan Framework - Part 1 (Taylor Wimpey et al, 2015)
• South Gillingham Master Plan Framework - Part 2 (Taylor Wimpey et al, 2015)
• Gillingham NP - Summary of parish responses to engagement event (2013)

Supporting evidence - chapter 6

• Committee Report for residential development at land at Bay (NDDC, 2016)
• Self Build & Custom Build Survey Report (2015)
• North Dorset Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2010 (NDDC, 2011)
• North Dorset Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2012 - Gillingham Extract (NDDC, 2013)

Supporting evidence - chapters 7 to 9

• Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Draft Waste Plan Update (2016)
• Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Workspace Strategy (2016)
• Get Britain Cycling (All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, 2013)
• Gillingham Royal Forest Project news article (Gillingham News, 2017)
• Gillingham Station Road Development Brief - Consultation Draft (2001)
• Gillingham Station Road Development Brief - Report on consultation and proposed changes (2002)
• Manual for Streets 2 (CIHT, 2010)
• The Portas Review of High Streets (M. Portas, 2011)
• Notes from meeting with South West Trains (GTC, 2015)
• North Dorset Employment Land Review (NDDC, 2007)
• North Dorset Guide to Shopfront Design (NDDC, 2014)
• Joint Retail Assessment - Volume 1 (NLP, 2008)
• Joint Retail Assessment - Volume 2 (NLP, 2008)
• Network Rail Information (GTC, 2016)

Supporting evidence - chapter 10

• Gillingham Community Space survey results (GTC, 2015)
• Dorset Primary Care Commissioning Strategy and Plan (Dorset CCG, 2016)
• Improving Dorset's Healthcare (Dorset CCG, 2017)
• North Dorset Infrastructure Delivery Plan (NDDC, 2014)
• Village and Community Halls Design Guidance Note (Sport England, 2002)
• Gillingham Creative Facilitator Reflection Report (We Made That, 2013)

Supporting evidence - chapter 11

• Chantry Fields Appeal Design (Planning Inspectorate, 2016)
• Wyke Hall local list information (Dorset Garden Trust, 2015)
• Guidance for outdoor sport and play (Fields In Trust, 2015)
• Gillingham Map of Flood Zone 2 (DCC, 2014)
• Gillingham Landscapes and Open Spaces Assessment Report (NDDC, 2003)
• North Dorset Open Space Audit and Assessment of Local Need (Strategic Leisure Ltd, 2006)
• Pre-submission draft green spaces tables (2017)

Supporting evidence - chapters 12 to 13

• Conservation area appraisal for Wyke (NDDC, 2012)
• Draft Appraisal for Colesbrook (GTC, 2017)
• List of designated heritage assets (Historic England, 2017)
• Draft Gillingham Conservation Enhancement Plan (GTC, 2015)
• Advice Note 7 - Local Heritage Listing (Historic England, 2016)
• Landscape Sensitivity to Wind and Solar Energy Development in North Dorset (LUC, 2014)
• Dorset Historic Towns Survey- Gillingham - Part 6- Historic Urban Character Appraisal (DCC, 2011)
• Gillingham Town Design Statement (GTC, 2012)