Puddletown is just one step away from having an adopted neighbourhood plan.

A final version of the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan was submitted to Dorset Council for examination and a referendum was held.

Residents voted on whether to accept or reject the plan on May 6 with 88.3 per cent of votes were cast in favour of the neighbourhood plan. There were 341 yes votes and 45 no votes.

All the plans were drawn up by local people with support from Dorset Council's planning policy team.

The communities of Arne, Blandford, Chickerell, Milton Abbas, Portland and Shaftsbury also voted in favour of their neighbourhood plans.

Councillor David Walsh, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for planning, said: "I am very pleased all seven neighbourhood plans were successful at the elections held last week.

"Successful neighbourhood plans are a result of a lot of hard work by community volunteers. This brings the total number of neighbourhood plans in Dorset that have been endorsed by referendum to 28. It is real proof of community spirit and how much people care about their local area."

What is a neighbourhood plan?

Neighbourhood plans aim to give residents more say in the future use of land and buildings in their area.

For example, a neighbourhood plan can say where new homes, shops or offices might be built or where important green spaces might be protected.

What happens next?

These neighbourhood plans will now be taken to Dorset Council's cabinet where councillors will decide whether to formally adopt them.

If formally adopted, the neighbourhood plans will be used to inform decisions on planning applications in the area.

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