EXISTING schemes to determine the future of building in Dorset are unlikely to be affected by local government reorganisation (LGR).

As reported in the Daily Echo, scores of residents gathered for a public meeting last week to voice concern over plans for up to 2,000 new homes in Longham.

The properties are proposed under East Dorset District Council’s local plan, which will see around 8,854 new homes built in the area by 2033. One of those who attended the public meeting questioned how the formation of new local authorities might affect the scheme.

Simon Trueick, partnership planning policy manager at Christchurch and East Dorset Councils, says progress on the plan continues despite LGR.

“Existing adopted local plans will remain in force after April 1 2019,” he said. “Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council took a decision some months ago to ‘de-couple’ their emerging joint local plan review into separate plans for each area, due to the fact that the two councils will form part of separate unitary councils under LGR.

“Progress on both local plan reviews is continuing, although it will eventually be a decision for the new councils as to the future of any existing local plan reviews in their areas.”

A spokesperson from Dorset County Council said local plans will not be affected “in the short term”.

“When local plans come-up for renewal then they will be merged into a large document, but significant changes are unlikely,” the spokesperson said.