Dorset cabinet adopts new five-year management plans for Dorset’s National Landscapes
Dorset Council’s cabinet has adopted the latest management plans for both the Dorset and Cranborne Chase National Landscape areas - formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The cabinet said its decision, on 9 December, was made ’to ensure that the statutory responsibilities in relation to the National Landscapes were met.'
It said: ‘Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 required the council to, ‘prepare and publish a Management Plan which formulates [their] policy for the management of the AONB and for carrying out of their functions in relation to it.
‘Adoption of the management plans prepared by each National Landscape, for and on behalf of the local authorities that fall within the protected areas, helped to fulfil this part of the requirement.’
The council had earlier said that the plan ‘sets out the policies for conserving and enhancing the National Landscapes’ natural beauty and will guide future actions for a five-year period’.
‘It builds on previous versions and is supported by other documents such as the Landscape Character Assessment and the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Plan.’
Although focussed mainly on the Dorset National Landscape in the south of the county, it also includes the Cranborne Chase National Landscape area in both Dorset and Wiltshire.
The Dorset National Landscape Partnership‘s new draft management plan for 2026-2031 closed for public consultation in September.
Government publishes new Environmental Improvement Plan
The Government’s long-awaited latest plan to improve the natural environment and everyone’s enjoyment of it has now been published and DCAN is studying its implications for the local area.
Through 10 goals to restore nature, the new Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) – launched on 1 December through the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) – sets out how the goals will be delivered by government and what it calls its ‘delivery partners’, who include landowners, farmers, businesses, communities and individuals.
The 10 goals are:
• Restore nature
• Air
• Water
• Chemicals and pesticides
• Waste
• Resources
• Climate change
• Reducing environmental hazards
• Biosecurity
• Access to nature
The EIP is not a consultation document but ecology and environmental groups are now being encouraged to say what they think of it.
Dorset Clean Energy Cluster
A green growth revolution is claimed to be underway in Dorset that will position the county as ‘a new UK destination for international investment in clean energy.’
Bringing together private sector organisations, the Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster (DCESC) says it is ‘on a mission to unlock investment and align processes to ensure the UK Industrial Strategy can be delivered in Dorset and the English Channel.
‘This will strengthen UK security and resilience, accelerate economic restructuring and transition whilst complementing energy projects in the Celtic Sea and other parts of the UK.’
Read the full story on Invest in Dorset website.
Dorset Council has announced measures to meet carbon targets early
A string of climate initiatives aimed at achieving its carbon reduction targets five years ahead of schedule have been announced by Dorset Council. The council says this reaffirms its commitment to achieving net zero by 2035 for the council and 2045 for the wider county.
The measures, supported by approximately £93 million, mostly from government grants, include:
– transitioning to electric vehicles
– retrofitting homes for energy efficiency
– expanding EV charging infrastructure
– converting streetlights to energy-efficient bulbs
– installing over 13,000 solar panels on council buildings.
Plans are also underway to introduce on-street EV chargers in towns with limited off-street parking and explore renewable energy opportunities such as offshore wind and small modular nuclear reactors. The council has also launched a climate change panel involving residents to guide future actions.