Vision, Objectives & Policies

3. Vision & Objectives

1. Our desired vision for Swanage in 2043 is …

“Swanage will keep its dual role as a centre for local residents and a seaside resort. The town will be enhanced through the provision of a range of facilities, services, shops and employment. It will therefore retain its status as one of Dorset’s most self-contained settlements, whilst further enhancing its special historic character and its setting within the Dorset National Landscape and the Jurassic Coast.

New family housing and, in particular affordable housing, will allow local people the opportunity to continue to live and work within Swanage. A diverse, thriving and prosperous economy will be secured through the promotion of a variety of business uses, the development of niche businesses that reflect the specific character and culture of the town, and a broad business portfolio that will ensure a strong economy beyond the traditional tourist season.

New development will be accompanied by areas of new green space that will improve access to the countryside. The town’s role as a visitor destination will be enhanced through the provision of improved health and sports facilities and the creation of enhanced public spaces along the seafront.”

2. The objectives of the Neighbourhood Plan are to:

1. Deliver genuinely affordable homes of the kind Swanage needs whilst contributing to meeting Dorset’s housing needs
2. Improve and maintain a thriving and resilient local commercial, business, and service sector, with the town centre at its heart, and to support proposals which assist in bringing this vision to fruition
3. Ensure the special architectural and historic character of the town – in its buildings and public spaces – are conserved and enhanced
4. Ensure development in the town conserves and enhances the natural beauty of the National Landscape and coastal habitats that surround it

Policies

3. The Neighbourhood Plan contains ten policies, each of which is intended to contribute to one or more of these objectives. Each policy has a ‘SWAN’ code number and title and the policy wording is in Bold text. For ease of cross-reference, the National Decision-Making Policies to be applied as relevant are included in Annex A. Below each policy is some supporting text to explain the intent of the policy and how it should be understood by applicants and applied by Dorset Council to planning applications. Where a policy applies to specific land or sites in Swanage, this is shown on the Policies Map.