Dorset planning committee decisions
72 decisions from the committee's minutes, 4 Sep 2025 to 22 Sep 2026. Each sets out what was proposed, what officers advised, what was said and how the committee decided.
1 in 10 decisions went against officer advice
Below the rate across all 346 councils with committee decisions on Plota (11.1%), 98th highest of 205 councils with at least 15 decisions.
- Decisions
- 72
- Approved
- 79.2%
- Against officer advice
- 9.7%
- Meetings
- 30
How Dorset compares
Share of decisions against officer advice at the 205 councils with at least 15 decisions on Plota. Each dot is a council.
| 96 | Burnley | 10% | 3 of 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | Hyndburn | 10% | 2 of 20 |
| 98 | Dorset | 9.7% | 7 of 72 |
| 99 | Hart | 9.5% | 2 of 21 |
| 100 | Adur and Worthing | 9.5% | 2 of 21 |
Source: Plota analysis of committee minutes from 346 councils.
More or less favourable than its officers?
Dorset's committee is in line with its officers. Officers recommended approval in 80.9% of these decisions; the committee approved 82.4%, 1.5 points more.
Across all 346 councils, committees approve 2.6 points fewer than their officers recommend, so Dorset leans further towards applicants than most.
Over the 68 decided applications with a clear officer recommendation.
Source: Plota analysis of Dorset's planning committee minutes and officer reports.
What it decides
79.2% approved and 16.7% refused. Dorset's minutes do not record vote counts.
Show as a table
| Month | Approved | Refused | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Feb 26 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 26 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| May 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 26 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Aug 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Plota analysis of Dorset's planning committee minutes.
When it overrules its officers
7 of 72 decisions went against the planning officers' recommendation.
Which way
What kind of application
From the 6 of 7 with a recorded application type; one application can count under more than one.
Source: Plota analysis of Dorset's planning committee minutes and officer reports.
Recent decisions against officer advice
- Sailing club platform extensionSailing Club Marine Parade Lyme RegisOfficers advised refusal because of heritage and residential amenity harm that public benefits would not outweigh.Approved
- Affordable housing removalLand To The South Of Howe Lane Verwood DorsetOfficers advised removing the affordable housing obligation because independent evidence showed it made the approved development unviable.Refused
- 49-home residential developmentLand Off Birchdale Road Colehill Wimborne DorsetOfficers advised approval because the benefits were not significantly outweighed by the adverse impacts, subject to contributions and conditions.Refused
- 78-home developmentLand North Of Castle Avenue Okeford FitzpaineOfficers advised approval because housing need, affordable homes and village connections outweighed the limited policy and heritage harm.Refused
- Pharmacy conversion and extension10 Weston Road ColehillOfficers advised refusal because the commercial appearance and activity would harm the area’s character and neighbours’ living conditions.Approved
- Food store and parking26 Canford Bottom ColehillOfficers advised refusal because the store was inappropriate in the Green Belt, harmed openness and lacked sufficient justification for employment-land loss.Approved
Latest decisions
Newest first. Each links to the full write-up: the proposal, the officers' advice, what was said and the vote.
September 2026 4
- One dwelling3 Maiden Castle Road DorchesterApproved
- French doors and balcony13 The Esplanade WeymouthApproved
- French doors and balcony13 The Esplanade WeymouthApproved
- Sailing club platform extensionSailing Club Marine Parade Lyme RegisApproved
August 2026 4
- Bridge repair and strengtheningKeynston Mill Lane Bridge Tarrant KeynestonApproved
- Garden summer houseBlack Oaks 301 Bournemouth Road Charlton Marshall Blandford ForumApproved
- Cat statue on plinthJulia's House 34 South Street DorchesterApproved
- 28 homesLand South Of Athelhampton Road PuddletownApproved
July 2026 2
Other committees nearby
- Bath planning committee
- BCP planning committee
- Bristol planning committee
- Cheltenham planning committee
- Cornwall planning committee
- Cotswold planning committee
- East Devon planning committee
- Exeter planning committee
- Exmoor planning committee
- Forest of Dean planning committee
- Gloucester planning committee
- Mendip planning committee
- Mid Devon planning committee
- North Devon planning committee
- North Somerset planning committee
- Plymouth planning committee
- South Gloucestershire planning committee
- South Hams planning committee
- South Somerset planning committee
- Swindon planning committee
- Teignbridge planning committee
- Tewkesbury planning committee
- Torbay planning committee
- Torridge planning committee