HAVE your say on affordable housing in Weymouth and where new homes should be built as the town council holds a series of events for its neighbourhood plan.

Weymouth Town Council (WTC) is working to produce a neighbourhood plan (NP) which guides developers on where new homes should be built and 'protects' green spaces, covering up to the year 2038.

Events will take place at various locations across the town this summer that will give residents the opportunity to come along and find out what a NP is, why it’s important to have one, and how people can have a say on the current draft plan.

The local authority officially signed off a draft version of the plan in May, having initially begun work on the document back in December 2020.

Hundreds of homes could be built across Weymouth as councillors look to meet strict housing goals set by Dorset Council, with 3,225 new properties needing to be delivered in the town over the next 17 years.

Drop-in events take place at the following locations from 3.30pm to 6.30pm: 

  • Wednesday, August 23 at Redlands Community Sports Hub, Dorchester Road, Weymouth, DT3 5AW
  • Thursday, August 24 at the Wellworthy Sports & Social Club, Dumbarton Road, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, DT4 9BY
  • Friday, August 25 at Preston Village Hall, Preston Road, Preston, Weymouth DT3 6BH
  • There will also be a public meeting on Tuesday, August 29 at WTC's council chamber in Commercial Road from 6.30pm to 8.30pm which is open to anyone to attend. 

Cllr David Northam, chair of the WTC neighbourhood plan steering group, said: “The people who live here feel strongly about our town and we want to ensure Weymouth develops with all our needs in mind.

"We need to be a resilient coastal community with homes and infrastructure for everyone. That’s why it’s important that residents take every opportunity to get involved in shaping a NP for the town.  

“We want to put planning back into people’s control by having a robust plan that guides developers on where new homes should be built for local people while balancing the conservation of local green spaces that people have told us are so important.

"So, come to one of our events and find out more about what’s involved before the draft plan moves to the next stage; a formal public consultation in October.” 

The plan will then be submitted to Dorset Council in the first part of 2024 which will then carry out its own six-week consultation, before it is submitted for 'independent examination'.

Any amendments will then be made to the final version of the plan which will go to a referendum where all Weymouth residents can have their say later in 2024.

Subject to a favourable referendum, the NP will then become a statutory planning document for the Weymouth area.

Visit www.weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan/