A blueprint for development of Swanage in Dorset has been published to guide future growth of the seaside town, rather than allow building work to happen with no strategic plan.
The draft Swanage Neighbourhood Plan is a planning document which has been created by Swanage Town Council in conjunction with a number of community groups but now residents and visitors are being invited to have their say.
The last major development site in Swanage was Compass Point off Northbrook Road
Increase in share of CIL funding
All communities which create a neighbourhood plan receive a larger share of the community infrastructure levy (CIL) from chargeable developments.
When most new homes are built the developer has to pay the CIL to boost the local infrastructure. This goes to the county council or in our case, Dorset Council.
The share of this money to Swanage Town Council will increase from 15 percent to 25 percent once a neighbourhood plan is in place. This is a key benefit of creating this document and getting it adopted quickly.
A planning application for the former Harrow House site is currently under consideration by Dorset Council but the number of homes exceeds what Swanage Town Council wishes for the area and there isn’t any meaningful affordable housing proposed by the developers
New housing development sites
Central to the document is the allocation of sites in Swanage where housing development could take place. There are six identified sites and most will not be a surprise.
- The former police station, Argyle Road: 12 homes
- The former Harrow House School, off Walrond Road: Approximately 45 homes
- The former Purbeck View School, off Northbrook Road: Approximately 50 homes
- Land at Kings Court Business Centre and Depot, Kings Road West: Approximately 20 homes and an unspecified number of commercial/business units
- Land off Prospect Way: 100 open market homes and a community-led development of approximately 70 affordable homes
- Land off Ulwell Road: Community-led development of 10 affordable homes, although 25 percent may be open market homes if necessary to make the scheme viable
The land off Prospect Way could see 170 new homes developed and the best chance to get a substantail amount of genuinely affordable housing if it is a community-led scheme
Land off Prospect Way concept drawing
Greenfield development off Prospect Way
The main new information is the allocation of land off Prospect Way which is currently open fields. This is not the allotment site but adjacent to it. Because it is a greenfield site, it is the best hope to achieve the delivery of genuinely affordable homes on a large scale.
An allocation of 170 homes on the site is spread out and includes plenty of green space to create a more attractive development including a SANG – an area of land designated for recreational purposes.
Of the 170 homes the neighbourhood plan is proposing 70 should be developed by a community led scheme as genuinely affordable to local people. This has the potential to attract families with young children to the area and boost the schools and shops.
Just because the sites are included in the Swanage Neighbourhood Plan doesn’t mean that they will be developed or built in the way as described in the plan.
It just means if developers follow the neighbourhood plan, then they are likely to encounter little to no opposition when they seek planning permission.
The attraction of Swanage as a holiday destination is obvious but the town council needs to balance tourism with the needs of the residents
Second homes policy
The document includes a second homes policy which says that all new homes built must be primary residences.
There’s two opt outs. The policy will not apply to new homes which are intended to be commercially let for holiday makers or a single home that is a replacement for an existing home.
This is the same as in the Purbeck Local Plan, however the Purbeck Local Plan will cease to exist once the Dorset Local Plan is adopted, although that won’t be until at least the end of 2027.
Hence it is essential if the second homes policy is to continue to include it in the Swanage Neighbourhood plan, which will work in conjunction with the new Dorset Local Plan.
The first Swanage Neighbourhood Plan consultation was held in autumn 2025
Consultation
There are 10 sections or policies to the draft Swanage Neighbourhood plan and people are being asked to read each policy section and then comment on a consultation form.
The information is on a website but this is the draft neighbourhood plan document.
The consultation on the draft Swanage Neighbourhood Plan will run until Friday 7th August 2026.
Community engagement events
- Monday 13th July 2026, 4 pm to 8 pm at The Showbar, Mowlem Theatre, Shore Road, Swanage, BH19 1DD
- Tuesday 21st July 2026, 2 pm to 6 pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church foyer, 160 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, BH19 1AZ
- Thursday 23rd July 2026, 3 pm to 7 pm at All Saints Church Hall, 26 Ulwell Road, Swanage, BH19 1LL
- Friday 31st July 2026, 9 am to 12 noon at Swanage Friday Market, Main Beach car park, Victoria Avenue, Swanage, BH19 1AP
Councillor Tina Foster celebrating 50 years of Swanage Town Council but looking towards the future when it comes to planning policy
“Planning positively for the future”
Chair of the Swanage Neighbourhood Plan steering group Councillor Tina Foster said:
“After years of hard work, we are delighted to have reached the first formal consultation stage of the Swanage Neighbourhood Plan, and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us get here.
“With significant changes taking place in the planning system, it is more important than ever that Swanage has an up-to-date neighbourhood plan to help protect the qualities that make our town so special, while planning positively for the future.
“I hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to read the draft neighbourhood plan and share their views during the consultation.”
As well as allocating land for development, the plan also lists green spaces like Prince Albert Gardens which should be protected from building
Next stages
- Summer / autumn 2026: Following the consultation the neighbourhood plan will be revised where appropriate
- Autumn 2026: The updated plan will be submitted to Dorset Council for Regulation 15 consultation
- Early 2027: Dorset Council will undertake a further Regulation 16 consultation and arrange an independent examination
- Spring 2027: Independent examination by a planning inspector
- Spring / summer 2027: If successful, Dorset Council will organise a local referendum. Residents will vote on whether the plan should be adopted. If more than 50 percent of those voting support the plan, Dorset Council will formally adopt it, and it will become part of the statutory development plan for the area
Further information
- The draft Swanage Neighbourhood Plan website
- Read the sections or policies
- Complete the consultation form
- Alternatively, feedback can be sent via email to comms@swanage.gov.uk or by post to Swanage Town Council, Town Hall, High Street, Swanage, BH19 2NZ.
