Green belt policy allows a short list of exceptions, such as limited extensions and replacement buildings. Anything else needs very special circumstances that clearly outweigh the harm. Some green belt land can count as grey belt, where it does not strongly serve the green belt's purposes. The council decides this in its green belt assessment or on each application, so we do not mark it here.

Read the government guidance ↗

Article 4 direction

Land at Lower Common. Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.

An Article 4 direction withdraws particular permitted development rights, so work that would normally need no application needs one here. Not every council has published its directions.

National infrastructure project 199 m away: Navitus Bay Wind Park

The site is 199 m from the project boundary. Generating station, decided. The project page says whether consent was granted.

Nationally significant infrastructure projects (power stations, electricity lines, pipelines, major roads and railways, harbours, airports and reservoirs) are consented by a Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008, after an examination by the Planning Inspectorate, rather than by the council. The boundary is the one the Inspectorate consults on and can change as the scheme does. Projects are shown within 2 km of the site.

Planning Inspectorate project page ↗

Special area of conservation 204 m away: Dorset Heaths

Work nearby can need a habitats assessment.

Harm to a protected site is only accepted where there is no alternative and an overriding public interest.

Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 1

Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.

SSSI 204 m away: Holt and West Moors Heaths SSSI

Natural England may need consulting, depending on what is proposed.

Sites of special scientific interest are the best wildlife and geological sites in the country. Development likely to harm one is rarely permitted.

Also on the record

Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s) had this area as grade 4, but it predates the buildings here and the current map does not class it as farmland.

Not affected

Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · No listed building at the site · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Planning Inspectorate and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Other new applications on this street

14 Oct 2026Pending

Little Gables Ringwood Road Three Legged Cross BH21 6RD

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29 Jun 2026Approved

Barnwood Ringwood Road Three Legged Cross Wimborne BH21 6QY

2x dead Silver Birch - Fell.

P/TRD/2026/03529

5 May 2026Decided

Hillier Garden Centre Ringwood Road Three Legged Cross BH21 6RD

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P/FUL/2026/02449

Important details

Council: Dorset
Application type: Full Planning Application
Postcode: BH21 6QZ
Received: 24 Jul 2026
Validated: 24 Jul 2026
Ward: West Moors and Three Legged Cross Ward
Parish: Verwood
Case officer: Show
Applicant: Show
Agent: Show

Decision outlook

Day 97, past the statutory target. 72% of new homes in Dorset are decided within thirteen weeks; extensions of time are common, and the council need not decide on the day. Last seen undecided on 28 Oct 2026.

predicted

Day 976 days past the 91-day target

49%decided within 8 weeks

80%approved

266decided in the last year

Plota live figures for new homes decided by Dorset in the last twelve months, from validation. Dorset decision record →

Consultation & key dates

Comments by: 28 Sept 2026

Dorset

Planning Authority Score

7.5/10

Good

#44 of 296 councils

Relevant to this application:

Householder decisions

Dorset is faster than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #51 out of 296. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (95%) than the national average (90%).

Faster than most councils

for householder decisions

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance

Dorset decision statistics

Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026

92%

Overall approval rate

Above avg (87%) #80 of 296

95%

Householder approved

Above avg (90%) #74 of 296

78%

Decided in 8 weeks

Above avg (63%) #51 of 296

35%

Extended time limit

Below avg (41%) #102 of 296

81%

Minor dwellings approved

344 decided (1-9 homes)

85%

Major dwellings approved

40 decided (10+ homes)

76%

Change of use approved

85 decided

2,781

Total decisions

233 refused in the year to March 2026