New housing sites to be removed from council plans

Dorset Council said that national planning policy required it to expand its scope for new housing sites

Many Dorset sites identified for development are likely to be rejected because they contravene national policy or do not have the land owners' consent, according to one councillor.

Former council leader Spencer Flower said there had been "a significant amount of public unrest," over some of the sites identified in the current version of the Dorset Local Plan.

Portland Hospital was on the list, with 51 homes proposed for its site, but Dorset Council said the healthcare trust had asked for it to be removed.

Planning portfolio holder Shane Bartlett said councils had been urged to widen their scope in order to find more potential sites.

He said the guidelines issued in the National Planning Policy Framework had also resulted, or would result, in some green belt land being re-graded as "grey belt", making those areas more likely to be developed.

"The guidance says we should consider all sites, but we will not be taking forward sites where landowners say they don't want their land to be considered," Mr Bartlett said.

The next draft of the plan is expected to be produced in August 2026, with that stage expected to be completed by December 2026.

The large public response and technical issues on the council's website could mean a final decision on Dorset's Local Plan may be delayed until the autumn of 2027.

One of the sites that had been identified for new housing is Portland Hospital.

Giovanna Lewis from Portland Hospital Development Group said: "We are delighted and relieved to be told by Dorset Healthcare Trust that they will be asking Dorset Council to remove the hospital from the Dorset Local Plan where it has been placed for many years as a site for future potential housing.

"We're really pleased that the current hospital management see the hospital as a site they wish to see thrive."

Dorset Council said: "We have recently been contacted by the trust, who have told us they no longer have plans to dispose of the Portland Hospital site and have requested it is not included in the Plan.

"There are currently plans underway to use part of the site as a Family Hub alongside the healthcare use on the site which will mean it will continue to be used by the community."

NHS Dorset has been approached for comment.