Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum

A neighbourhood forum is a designated group of local residents, businesses, and community organisations formed in areas where there is no parish or town council. Its primary role is to lead the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan, representing the interests and priorities of the wider community throughout the planning process. Neighbourhood forums must meet certain legal criteria, including having at least 21 members and being open to people who live, work, or run businesses in the area. This ensures broad and inclusive participation in shaping future development and local policies.

Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum was set up as an unincorporated association with the support of Sandbanks Community Group to develop a Neighbourhood Plan for the Sandbanks peninsula.

We have developed our Neighbourhood Plan which will help protect the unique character and heritage of Sandbanks for the benefit of residents, local businesses and the many visitors we welcome from all over the world, while embracing fresh ideas and sustainable development in the locality.

A neighbourhood plan is a way of helping local communities to influence planning decisions in the area in which they live and work. These plans form part of the statutory development plan for the area, meaning that local authorities must consider them when making planning decisions.

It can be used to:

• develop a shared vision for a neighbourhood
• choose where new homes, shops, offices and other developments should be built
• identify and protect important local open spaces and amenities
• influence what new buildings should look like and how they should be positioned

Neighbourhood Plans are prepared by parish or town councils, or neighbourhood forums in areas without such councils, and must pass a local referendum before coming into force. The process encourages community engagement and helps ensure that development reflects the priorities and character of the local area.

The Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan was made on 23 July 2024.

Read BCP Council's 'Made' Decision Statement agreed at full council on 23 July 2024.

The Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Plan area was formally designated on 20 December 2019.

Below you can view the:

• Formal designation of the Sandbanks neighbourhood area
• Sandbanks Peninsula submission draft neighbourhood plan for examination (under Regulation 16)
• Representations received to the submitted Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan
• Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan examination
• Sandbanks Referendum

Supporting evidence:

• Assets of Community Value in Sandbanks dated Sept 2022 (appendix A)
• Sandbanks Character Area Assessment dated Dec 2021 (appendix B)
• Sandbanks Landscape Assessment dated July 2021 (appendix C)
• Marketing requirements dated August 2022 (appendix D)
• Evidence base document dated December 2021 (appendix E)
• Detailed Guidance document dated December 2021 (appendix F)
• Design Guide document dated April 2022 (appendix G)

The Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum’s status was renewed for a period of 5 years in January 2025. No other organisation may be designated for that neighbourhood area until the designation expires in January 2030 or is withdrawn.

The forum held consultation events for residents, businesses and visitors to understand what people feel are the most important features of Sandbanks and what vision we all have for maintaining or improving them.

We are now looking for volunteers from the community who can spare a little of their time to help on the Committee which meets monthly to consider the Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan’s objectives alongside new planning applications.

Should the Forum wish to respond to planning applications then the committee, and its advisers, decide the content of the response by measuring the planning application against the policies of the Sandbanks Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan.

The current committee is:

Tiffany Chawner (chairperson), Susannah Nettleton, Robert Webb, Alison Sepping, Alan Lester and Martin Stanley.