About The Local Plan

The Local Plan sets out the vision, strategic objectives and overarching development strategy for the growth of the District over the period to 2040.

It provides the planning policy framework to guide the future development of the area, addressing needs and opportunities for housing, the economy, community facilities and infrastructure, as well as the basis for conserving and enhancing the natural and historic environment, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and achieving well designed places. 

New Local Plan to 2040

The new Dover Local Plan sets out the vision, strategic objectives and overarching development strategy for the growth of the District over the period to 2040. It provides the planning policy framework to guide the future development of the area, addressing needs and opportunities for housing, the economy, community facilities and infrastructure, as well as the basis for conserving and enhancing the natural and historic environment, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and achieving well designed places. It will comprise:

  • a vision for the future of the district;
  • the amount of housing, employment and retail development needed in the district;
  • strategic policies;
  • site allocations;
  • and policies map.

During 2021, the first draft of the Local Plan (known as Regulation 18) was consulted on for a period of 8 weeks.

The Council have recently consulted on the Regulation 19 Submission version of the Local Plan to 2040 for a period of 7 weeks from the 21st of October to the 9th of December 2022. In total over 1900 representations were made from over 500 representors. Of the total representations received 8 were group / petition representations totalling to 1706 additional representors.

Once representations from the consultation have been processed the Council will submit the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate, as in accordance with the timetable set out in the Local Development Scheme 2022, expected to be in quarter 1 of 2023.

Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan

The draft Regulation 18 Local Plan was published for consultation on the 20th January 2021, for a period of 8 weeks, to the 17th March 2021.

Information regarding the consultation can be found in Part 1 of the Regulation 22 Consultation Statement which can be found on Examination Documents Page. 

As part of the consultation on the Draft Local Plan we also invited comments to be made on the Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulation Assessment, Draft Economic Growth Strategy and the Draft Open Space, Playing Pitches and Play Areas Strategies. In addition to holding a targeted call for sites.

In total over 3,000 comments were received on the draft Local Plan from over 1200 individuals and organisations.

The representations made during the consultation have been processed and uploaded onto the Council’s Consultation Portal and are available to view here (https://dover-consult.objective.co.uk/kse)

To view the comments –

  • Click on "LEARN MORE" on the relevant consultation (eg: Regulation 18 Consultation on the Draft Dover District Local Plan)
  • Select "WHAT PEOPLE SAY" at the top of the page under the title of the consultation.
  • Click on the eye icon at the start of each consultation point or in the contents panel on the left to view comments on that part of the plan.

The full consultation process as well as the summary of representations and the councils response is detailed within the Regulation 22 Statement which can be found under supporting documents section within in the Evidence Base. 

You can also view all of the comments made specifically on Site Allocations Policy 1

Regulation 19 Submission Local Plan

The Regulation 19 Submission Local Plan sets out the vision, strategic objectives and overarching development strategy for future growth in the District over the period to 2040.

The Regulation 19 Submission Local Plan was published for public consultation for 7 weeks from the 21st of October to the 9th of December. The below documents where available throughout the consultation period for interested parties:

For more information view the Part 2 of the Regulation 22 Consultation Statement.  This can be found on the Examination Documents Page. 

Alongside the Local Plan the following documents where are also open for public consultation at the same time: 

  • Sustainability Appraisal of the Dover District Local Plan
  • Habitats Regulation Assessment on the Dover district Local Plan
  • Infrastructure Delivery Plan Draft for Consultation 2022

Settlement Maps

Regulation 19 Local Plan Submission Settlement Maps. 

Settlement maps set out a summary of the sites proposed for development in the Regulation 19 Submission Local Plan, including a summary of the findings of the Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment 2022 and how sites have been selected for allocation.

Regulation 19 Evidence Base

The Evidence Base that sat alongside the Regulation 19 Submission Document is all included within the Submission Documents submitted to the Planning Inspector. They can also be viewed in plan order on the Regulation 19 Evidence Base page.