Latest news from the Vale of Allen Neighbourhood Plan.

Working groups draft policy frameworks

Following the survey analysis, five dedicated working groups are now translating community feedback and evidence into statutory planning policies. The Youth Working Group works across every theme so young people's needs shape the whole plan:

1. 01

   Environment

   Guidelines on protecting local green spaces, walking routes, dark skies, and biodiversity.

2. 02

   Heritage

   Mapping designated and non-designated heritage assets across all villages, such as historic churches, cob walls, and ancient roadways, starting with initial audits in Hinton Martell and Witchampton.

3. 03

   Housing

   Establishing local-connection criteria, housing register alignment, and criteria-based policies for infill housing.

4. 04

   Business & Economy

   Gathering evidence to support rural enterprises, agriculture, and home-working infrastructure.

5. 05

   Youth

   Bringing young people's needs and aspirations into the evidence, priorities, and recommendations developed by every working group.

Steering Group policy drafting and meeting minutes

Following meetings held on 20 May and 29 April 2026

Following the completion and processing of the village-wide surveys, the Steering Group and working groups met across regular sessions to synthesize feedback and draft initial policy frameworks covering Housing, Landscape & Environment, Heritage, Local Business, and Youth Facilities.

Community survey completed: 269 responses received across the parishes

Following the recent leaflet drop to every household across the Vale of Allen, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group has compiled and analyzed the full results of the community questionnaire.

Key survey findings & statistics

• High community engagement: 269 questionnaires were returned out of 655 households, representing a 41% household response rate across the parish area.
• Population represented: The responses capture the views of 541 residents aged 16+ (40.8% of the local adult population).

• Valued local assets: Residents rated a friendly and safe environment, open green spaces, proximity to woodland and rivers, and inclusion within the Cranborne Chase National Landscape and Dark Skies Reserve as the most vital aspects of living in the Vale.
• Housing development pace: 89% of respondents favoured very modest growth (less than 2 new homes per year), with an overwhelming preference for brownfield development and individual infill plots over greenfield sites.
• Local economy & remote working: 36.6% of respondents work from home, 14.9% run a business from home, and 46% support reserving land for small-scale local business development.
• Infrastructure concerns: The top infrastructure priorities identified by residents include road conditions (66.9%), bus services (43.8%), car parking (40.2%), surface water drainage (38%), and broadband speed (36.5%).

Launch of village-specific residents' questionnaires

The Steering Group launched tailored village questionnaires for all constituent settlements across the parish, including Crichel, Gussage All Saints, Gussage St Michael, Hinton, and Witchampton.

• To capture local community needs while building a single unified Vale of Allen Neighbourhood Plan, surveys were customised to each village's distinct infrastructure, assets, and features.
• Residents provided input on local character, infrastructure priorities, housing views, business support, and environmental conservation through the end of February 2026.

Boundary designation progress and Steering Committee formation

Following the initial village launch meetings, the Parish Council confirmed completion of the three-month public boundary consultation with Dorset Council, which ran until 17 June 2025.

• Dorset Council received five representations: four from statutory agencies offering guidance and one from an adjacent parish suggesting boundary refinements.
• On 8 July 2025, the Parish Council formally agreed to proceed with the proposed boundary covering the full Vale of Allen Parish area.
• Volunteer Steering Committee members representing each village were recruited to lead the next phases of plan development.

Application to Dorset Council for Neighbourhood Area designation

Vale of Allen Parish Council formally submitted its Neighbourhood Area application to Dorset Council.

• The designation application included formal agreed consent from neighbouring Knowlton Parish Council, where the proposed boundary extends slightly into the adjacent parish area.
• Dorset Council published the application for a statutory consultation period through 17 June 2025.

Parish Council resolution to proceed

Following a series of community launch meetings held across each village in the Vale, the Vale of Allen Parish Council formally voted to initiate a statutory Neighbourhood Plan.