Trent Neighbourhood Plan
Regulation 14 Pre-Submission Consultation
Consultation period: 1 July to 31 August 2026
The Queen Thorne Parish Council is inviting comments on the Regulation 14 Trent Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission Draft.
What is the Trent Neighbourhood Plan?
After a series of parish questionnaires, parish meetings, surveys, out-reach meetings and responding to community feedback, the Trent Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared by the Trent Neighbourhood Planning Group on behalf of Queen Thorne Parish Council. It’s stated aim:
“….. is to shape a resilient and distinctive future for Trent by managing development so that it strengthens community well-being, protects the parish’s heritage and landscape, and reflects the priorities of local people.”
In this context, the NP takes a proportionate and locally-led approach by identifying a small number of previously developed (brownfield) sites capable of delivering limited growth. These are well related to the existing settlement and offer opportunities for:
- the re-use of existing buildings, including important heritage assets;
- the provision of smaller and adaptable dwellings;
- and reinforcing the vitality of the community without extending development into open countryside.
Why are we consulting?
It is a legal requirement for the Parish Council to consult the Statutory authorities, Dorset and neighbouring councils, local residents, landowners, businesses and other interested parties.
The purpose of this consultation is to give everyone an opportunity to read the draft Plan and supporting documents, and to tell us whether they support the Plan, object to any part of it, or wish to suggest changes.
All comments received during the consultation period will be carefully considered before the Plan is finalised for submission to Dorset Council.
Printed copies of the draft Plan are also available to view at:
- St Andrew’s Church, Trent
- The Rose and Crown, Trent
How to comment
Comments should preferably be submitted using the online Regulation 14 Response Form:
Submit your comments here: Regulation 14 Response Form
The form allows you to say whether you support or object to any part of the draft Plan, and to suggest any changes you would like the Parish Council to consider.
The formal consultation period runs from 1 July to 31 August 2026. The consultation documents are available to view now, and any representations received before 1 July will be accepted and treated as part of the Regulation 14 consultation.
If you do not wish to use the online form, comments may also be submitted by email to:
clerk@queenthorneparishcouncil.gov.uk
Please also copy: trentnpg@gmail.com
Or by post to:
Queen Thorne Parish Council
Townsend Cottage
Poyntington
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 4LF
Consultation deadline
All comments must be received by:
31 August 2026
Comments received after this date may not be able to be considered.
What happens next?
After the consultation closes, all comments will be reviewed by the Neighbourhood Planning Group and Queen Thorne Parish Council.
The draft Plan may then be amended before being formally submitted to Dorset Council for examination by an independent examiner. If the Plan successfully completes examination, it will proceed to a local referendum when residents will choose whether or not it should be adopted.
Privacy
Personal information submitted as part of this consultation will be used only for the purposes of preparing the Trent Neighbourhood Plan and managing the Regulation 14 consultation. Representations may be summarised in consultation documents, but personal contact details will not be published.
Previous Neighbourhood Plan Updates
September 2023 - Queen Thorne Neighbourhood Plan has changed to Trent Neighbourhood Plan
In 2019 the parish council applied to commence creating a Neighbourhood Plan with a designated area covering the whole of Queen Thorne . Since then, the residents of Trent have moved forward with producing a plan, whilst the other villages have all decided not to take part. It was therefore decided to change the designated area and name to reflect this.
In August 2023 Queen Thorne Parish Council submitted a request to Dorset Council to amend the designated Neighbourhood Area and name, by retaining the parish of Trent but excluding the parishes of Over Compton, Nether Compton and Sandford Orcas. The Neighbourhood Area will subsequently be referred to as Trent Neighbourhood Area.
On September 25th 2023 Dorset Council took the decision to accept the new designated area. Details can be found by clicking this link: Decision to amend the Queen Thorne Neighbourhood Area
Those interested in helping with the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan can contact the Parish Clerk by email at clerk@queenthorneparishcouncil.gov.uk
A Neighbourhood Plan aims to give residents more control over their local area, when plans for new homes, shops and offices in their town or village are considered.
Once the plan is written, it will be consulted on locally and submitted to Dorset Council for independent examination. It will also be subject to a local referendum to make sure it has the support of local people.