Readers are no doubt aware that the draft South West RSS (Regional Spatial Strategy) is in limbo following the successful legal challenge by Hertfordshire councils into the East of England plan. The High Court ruled that insufficient work had been carried out regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment. The government is now looking at the implications of this ruling on all unadopted plans.

In the meantime, and with the regional assembly now abolished, a 20 strong Strategic Leaders Board has been established. It is a grouping of local authority leaders made up of County and Unitary Council Leaders and one each from the Districts in Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset plus the Leader of the Isle of Scilly Council. The group will work with the Regional Development Agency on the merged economic and regional spatial strategy that will then become the Regional Strategy – if and when finally approved – or abolished – by government. Even though the RSS has stalled, work on the Local Development Frameworks (new local plans), is pushing ahead. In respect of the East Dorset and Christchurch LDF – the two councils are working in partnership – a public consultation on key issues in the Core Strategy is expected early in 2010. The Bournemouth Council’s consultation on the Core Strategy – Issues & Options – runs until 9th October 2009.

In addition to LDF’s, all councils are required to identify and maintain a rolling five year supply of deliverable land for housing in their areas. Documents are updated annually to ensure that the specific sites identified will contribute to the delivery of the five year housing land supply.

Plans are being prepared to build a new renewable and low-carbon energy facility for Dorset. The facility will be based at Dorset Green Technology Park (formerly known as  Winfrith Technology Park).

A public exhibition on the plans can be view on :

Friday 15th January at Winfrith Village Hall, 2pm to 8pm

Saturday 16th January at D’Urberville Centre, Wool, 11am to 3pm