PEOPLE are being encouraged to help shape the future of Swanage Town Centre.

A draft neighbourhood plan is being created for the town which gives people the power to help decide where and how new homes, shops and offices should be built.

If the plan is eventually approved following a referendum, it will be considered when Dorset Council decides planning applications.

It will also give communities greater access to funding, as towns would receive a larger share of the Community Infrastructure Levy – a fee paid for by developers to support additional infrastructure.

The share increases from 15% for communities without a plan to 25% once a plan is in place.

Swanage faces growing pressures, including an aging population, demand for new housing, and development and infrastructure challenges.

National government policy is also driving higher housing targets across Dorset.

Now, people are being asked to complete a survey to explain what they love about the town, what could be improved, and who should be involved.

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This information will help feedback into the neighbourhood plan.

Swanage Coast Forum has been appointed by Swanage Town Council to engage with the community and gather views to be included in the draft neighbourhood plan.

A spokesperson said: “Neighbourhood planning lets communities create legally binding plans or permissions that protect character areas, green spaces and community facilities, and shape where and how development happens in their area, provided they align with local and national policies and are approved by a local referendum.”

It added: “We have a unique opportunity to shape Swanage’s next chapter. A Neighbourhood Plan lets us decide where new homes, shops, and offices should go, and helps protect the character of our special town.”

The draft plan will be shared during a formal consultation planned for early 2026.

There are eight themes in the neighbourhood plan:

1. Swanage settlement – Assessing how sustainable development principles can be applied, and modification of the settlement boundary to incorporate new housing allocations where necessary.

2. Housing mix – Reviewing the appropriate mix of dwelling types and tenures based on identified local housing needs.

3. Development sites – Seeking views on constraints and opportunities of potential development sites.

4. Town centre – Proposals to enhance the town centre and improve its vitality and viability.

5. Townscape character – Safeguarding existing designated areas of distinctive local character and inviting comments on report findings that identify the value of undesignated heritage assets and areas of special character in Swanage.

6. Open space and recreation – Safeguarding existing designated open spaces (that have not been classified as local green spaces) and identifying and seeking comments on potential new spaces, to ensure sufficient locations throughout the parish for sport, recreation and leisure activities.

7. Local green spaces – Safeguarding existing designated local green spaces, seeking comments as to why these spaces are considered special, and identifying and seeking comments on potential new green spaces for protection.

8. Community facilities – Identifying what community facilities should be safeguarded and improved where needed and where possible.

The neighbourhood plan will link with the current Swanage Local Plan and the Purbeck Local Plan and will help define the town’s place in the upcoming Dorset Local Plan.

The survey closes on October 19. Visit www.dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/swanage-neighbourhood-plan/surveys/swanage-neighbourhood-plan-survey to view the survey.

Drop in events are taking place throughout October.

• Wednesday, October 8 at Herston Village Hall from 3pm to 7pm
• Wednesday October 15 at Emmanuel Baptist Church from 10am to 2pm