VILLAGERS are drawing up a neighbourhood plan in a bid to protect their village from mass development.

Residents in Wool are developing the plan to make sure they have a formal say on how development should be undertaken in their community.

It comes after Purbeck District Council started to debate their local plan for housing which will see 3,080 new homes built across the borough by 2033 with up to 800 of these due to be in Wool.

The first stage of the plan is underway which will commence with the creation of a Neighbourhood Plan Area boundary with plans being put forward by the Wool Parish Council steering group to Purbeck District Council.

Following this, the steering group which is comprised of volunteers who live and work in the village will then prepare draft policies that cover many aspects of the village infrastructure and housing before submitting a final plan to the new Dorset council next year which will see Purbeck District Council merge with five other local authorities.

Neighbourhood planning is a right for communities introduced through the Localism Act 2011.

Communities can shape development in their areas through the production of neighbourhood development plans.

While these cannot block development that is already part of the Local Plan, they can shape where that development will go and what it will look like.

Once approved, the new Dorset council planning authority will then take the plan into account when determining planning applications.

A spokesman for Wool Parish Council, said: "The intention of this plan at this stage is to provide to shape development for future generations not only for housing but employment and infrastructure. Wool Parish Council is committed to working together with all partners to ensure the continuous development of the local area. We have enclosed a map of the area we would like to progress planning.

"The area includes the full parish of Wool, a small section of Winfrith and East Stoke. Both neighbouring parishes will be consulted and advised of the intention of the Wool Parish Plan."

Local people are now being invited to submit comments on the proposed area by sending an email or writing a letter to Purbeck District Council.

Their comments may include reasons for or against the boundary and considerations to bear in mind when the proposed area is selected.

Councillor Laura Miller, housing portfolio holder for Purbeck District Council, said: “This is an important process for Wool and we are encouraging local people to give their views on the boundary.

“Their views will help shape the Neighbourhood Plan for Wool and more comments will be sought as things move forward.

"We will be keeping people informed along the way and there will be opportunities to talk to the steering group leading the process and to the District Council.”

The plans is expected to be approved in 2019 and anyone wishing to comment on this application can either email localplan@purbeck-dc.gov.uk or write to Planning Policy Neighbourhood Planning, Purbeck District Council, Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham, BH20 4PP.