Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan 2019–2036

The Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan was made (adopted) by Dorset Council on 22 June 2021.

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

The decision statement and the 'made' Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan (with corrected map 3 and map 4 re-inserted) are available online and will be available to view at the council's offices (address below) during normal opening hours when the offices reopen to the public.

Dorset Council
County Hall
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1XJ

Referendum Result

The Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan referendum was held on Thursday 6 May 2021 and asked residents: "Do you want Dorset Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Chickerell to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

A majority voted in favour of the neighbourhood plan (YES votes: 1006; NO votes: 184). The turnout was 24.7%. More details regarding the results, plus details of the other elections and referendums that took place that day can be found here.

As a result, the plan will now proceed to Cabinet on 22 June 2021 where a decision will be made on formally making the Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan part of the development plan for the area covered by Chickerell Town Council (the Chickerell neighbourhood area).

Referendum

Dorset Council agreed with the findings of the Examiner’s Report and agreed that a referendum should take place on Thursday 6 May 2021. Documents relating to the referendum are listed below:

Information Statement – provides details on the referendum, such as the question that will be asked, where and when the referendum will be held, who is entitled to vote, and can you can vote (including by post or proxy)
Chickerell Town Neighbourhood Plan 2019 to 2036 (referendum version)
Decision Statement (26 February 2021) – a statement by the local planning authority that the plan as proposed meets the basic conditions
Summary of Representations received to the regulation 16 consultation
Examiner's Final Report (January 2021)

Decision to proceed to referendum

Following the successful examination of the Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan, Dorset Council has agreed that the plan, as amended, can proceed to referendum. The council released a Decision Statement on 26 February 2021 to this effect.

Regulations linked to the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that neighbourhood plan referendums cannot take place until 6 May 2021. These measures mean that neighbourhood plans may come into force later than they would have done. With this in mind the Government has updated current planning guidance to set out that neighbourhood plans awaiting referendums can be given significant weight in decision making.

The Chickerell Town Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2036 (Referendum Version) should therefore be taken into account and given significant weight in decision-making, so far as the plan is material to the application.

Examiner's Report

Mr David Hogger BA MSc MRTPI MCIHT issued his report on the submitted Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan on 6 January 2021. He concludes that provided the recommendations that he makes are followed, then the plan would meet the basic conditions. He therefore recommends that the plan, as modified, can proceed to referendum. Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning will decide, in due course, whether the plan should proceed to referendum.

The examiner considered whether the plan met certain basic conditions, satisfies legal requirements, and identifies an appropriate area for a referendum. The basic conditions, which are set out in the legislation, are intended to ensure that neighbourhood plans are compatible with their wider context. The plan must:

have regard to national planning policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State;
contribute to achieving sustainable development;
be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan for the area (the North Dorset Local Plan); and,
be compatible with EU obligations and human rights requirements

The examiner provided a review of the plan and made recommendations in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 (as amended) and related regulations.

If the neighbourhood plan is supported by a local referendum, it will form part of the statutory development plan for Chickerell.

Plan 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 Hogger BA MSc MRTPI MCIHT). The Examiner considers whether the plan meets certain basic conditions, satisfies legal requirements, and will identify an appropriate area for a referendum.

The Examiner wrote a letter on 2 November 2020 setting out the examination timetable, and asking Chickerell Town Council and Dorset Council a number of questions in order to assist with the examination process. The letter from the Examiner is available below, along with the responses from Chickerell Town Council and Dorset Council.

Examiner's questions to Dorset Council and Chickerell Town Council, 2 November 2020
Chickerell Town Council response, 23 November 2020
Dorset Council response, 23 November 2020
Dorset Council response, Appendices:-

Consultation on the Submitted Plan

As the local planning authority, Dorset Council was required to consult on the plan before the examination takes place. The consultation took place for eight weeks from Friday 21 August to Friday 16 October 2020. The responses received during this period are below.

Representations received to the submitted Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan

Responses
Document Reference	Response
CH01	Highways England
CH02	Historic England
CH03	Darren and Claire Taylor
CH04	Natural England
CH05	Persimmon Homes South Coast
CH05a	Response Form – Policy CNP4
CH05b	Response Form – Policy CNP10
CH05c	Appendix 1 – CHIC2 Allocation
CH05d	Response Form – Camp Road Site
CH05e	Response Form – Policy CNP11
CH05f	Appendix 1 – Chickerell Background Paper
CH05g	Appendix 2 – Site Delivery Statement
CH05h	Ecological appraisal and Phase 1 bat survey
CH05i	Movement & Access Strategy
CH05j	Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
CH06	CG Fry (local house builder)
CH06a	Comments on Submission Draft
CH06b	Comments on Pre-Submission Draft
CH07	Bourne Leisure
CH08	Aileen Chittle
CH09	Weymouth and Portland Access Group
CH10	Michael and Wendy Kelly
CH11	Jurassic Coast Trust
CH12	Dorset Council