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To adopt an
updated ‘Local List’ (Dorset Council Planning Applications: National and
Local List of Validation Requirements) to set out the supporting
information that is required to be submitted alongside
planning applications. The updated list will take effect from 2
February 2026. 

 

This
decision is taken under delegated powers, following consultation with
the Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning and
the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Council’s four planning
committees (as set out below). Paragraph 136 of the Officer Scheme of
Delegation (which forms part of the Council’s constitution) provides the
following delegated powers: 

 

“To
undertake all action in respect of administering / processing any application
under any of the Town and Country Planning Legislation including the power to: 

 

(a)  determine whether any application
has been validly made and/or whether to decline to register and/or determine
any application including to decline to determine any application which s/he
considers to be a repeat application, relating to an extant enforcement action
and/or as a result of the submission of
inadequate/insufficient information; 

(b)  determine what, and the extent
of, information required in respect of any application, including
any environmental impact assessment and/or any other assessment and/or report…” 

 

This
delegated authority has been passed to me by the Local Scheme of
Nomination for Planning Services – Executive Director of Place. 

 

Reasons for the decision

The
National Planning Policy Framework (paragraph 45) states that “Local
planning authorities should publish a list of their information requirements
for applications for planning permission. These requirements should be kept to
the minimum needed to make decisions, and should
be reviewed at least every two years. Local planning authorities should only
request supporting information that is relevant, necessary and
material to the application in question”. This list of information
requirements is referred to as the Local List. 

 

The
Council’s current Local List was adopted on 1 October
2022 and has since been updated on a number of occasions, with
the most recent update being published on 11 December 2025. Given the time
that has passed since the last full review of the Local List, a further review
has been undertaken. The review offers the opportunity to ensure that the
Council is obtaining the information needed to enable the assessment and
determination of planning applications. Officers have undertaken a review of
the Local List. A draft updated Local list was circulated to the Cabinet
Member for Planning and Emergency Planning and the Chairmen and
Vice-Chairmen of the four planning committees in June 2025. The draft
Local List was subsequently published for consultation
between 16 June and 14 July 2025. Regular planning agents,
town and parish councils, and Dorset Council members were notified of the
consultation on the draft Local List. Following the close
of the consultation, officers considered all the comments received and made
some minor changes to the Local List in response to points raised. The updated
Local List has now been finalised and is
ready to adopt. The key changes from
the previous Local List are summarised below: 

 

Biodiversity
net gain: Simplified national requirements while keeping links to
government guidance, as the process is now well-established. 

Clearer
separation: Biodiversity net gain and ecological reports now have
distinct sections to clarify their requirements. 

Battery
storage safety: A new section on battery energy storage safety
statements, following concerns about fire risks raised at planning
committee. 

Listed
buildings guidance: Enhanced advice from the conservation team on what
to include in applications. 

Tree
survey updates: The arboricultural impact
assessments section has been restructured based on feedback from the tree
team. 

National
Landscapes: Reference to updated National Landscape
Management Plans. 

Dorset
Local Nature Recovery Strategy: Requirement for applicants to set
out how Dorset’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been considered as
part of the Biodiversity Gain Statement. 

Better
links: Improved references throughout the document to guide applicants
and agents. 

Simplified
checklists: Following feedback from planning
agents, we’re developing easier-to-follow validation checklists.
The first of these for householder applications and listed building
consent are now available on the website. 

Heritage
statement template: Created by the conservation team
to assist applicants is now live on the website. 

 

The updated
Local List will provide clarity to applicants as to the
information required at the outset for the assessment of planning
applications. It has been prepared in line with national planning
policy and guidance and has been subject to consultation as set out above. I
therefore consider that it is appropriate to adopt the updated Local
List. 

 

Alternative options considered

The
alternative option of not reviewing the Council’s Local List would
not be in line with national policy and guidance, which sets out that Local
Lists should be reviewed every two years.