About the plan

One rural landscape,
five parish communities.

The plan area follows the shared geography of the Vale of Allen, bringing five neighbouring parishes and their villages and hamlets together around a practical vision for future development.

The planning framework

Local priorities with statutory weight

Neighbourhood planning allows communities to prepare planning policies for their area. When brought into force, the Vale of Allen Neighbourhood Plan will form part of the statutory development plan used by Dorset Council when deciding planning applications.

The plan must meet national requirements and work alongside Dorset Council's strategic planning policies. It will use proportionate local evidence to address matters such as the scale and location of development, design, landscape, heritage and community needs.

How the plan comes into force

Once a complete draft has been prepared, Vale of Allen Parish Council must publicise it for at least six weeks and consult the prescribed consultation bodies. Consultation responses will be considered and the plan amended where appropriate before it is submitted to Dorset Council.

Dorset Council will check that the submitted plan complies with the relevant legal requirements, publicise it for a further minimum six weeks and appoint an independent examiner. The examiner will consider whether the plan meets the basic conditions and issue a report. Dorset Council must then decide whether the plan should proceed to referendum.

If more than half of those voting in the referendum vote in favour, the plan comes into force as part of the statutory development plan. Subject to the narrow exceptions set out in legislation, Dorset Council must then formally make the neighbourhood plan within eight weeks of the referendum.

The area lies within and around the setting of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape. Its nationally important landscape character, dark skies, biodiversity and historic environment are central considerations, guided by the National Landscape's planning guidance as well as local and national policy.

Designated area

Vale of Allen neighbourhood area

The red boundary marks the neighbourhood area designated for the Vale of Allen Neighbourhood Plan. Blue lines show Dorset parish boundaries.

Map of the Vale of Allen designated neighbourhood area, outlined in red, with Dorset parish boundaries shown in blue — Vale of Allen Neighbourhood Area, July 2025. Map produced by Dorset Council.Select the map to view full size

The plan area

Our five parishes

Each parish brings its own villages, character and priorities to the shared plan.

Crichel

A parish of historic estate landscapes, spanning two linked villages.

Long Crichel
Moor Crichel

Gussage All Saints

A small village parish shaped by open countryside and ancient routes.

Gussage All Saints

Gussage St Michael

A close knit parish with a strongly rural setting.

Gussage St Michael

Hinton

A parish of villages and hamlets set among the fields and lanes of the vale.

Hinton Martell
Hinton Parva
Stanbridge
Gaunts Common (west of Petersham Lane only — the remainder is in Holt Parish Council)

Witchampton

A historic village parish with a conservation area and strong landscape character.

Witchampton

Get involved

Join the Steering Group

Volunteers from across the Vale of Allen are welcome to join the Steering Group or contribute to one of its five working groups. The Youth Working Group helps every theme align with young people's needs, while local knowledge, practical skills and time are valuable across the plan.

Volunteer with the plan View governance

One rural landscape,five parish communities.