A Neighbourhood Plan for Puncknowle, Swyre and West Bexington.

Welcome to the temporary homepage of the Neighbourhood Plan for the Parish of Puncknowle and Swyre.

“Neighbourhood planning gives local communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area”.

We are preparing a separate website for the Neighbourhood Plan, but in the meantime you can find out here how volunteer members of the community are working on the plan, get progress updates, a timetable of events and activities, see the minutes of meetings and find out how to contact us.

THE PARISH

The rural parish of Puncknowle and Swyre includes the coastal settlement at West Bexington and is named the 3 Villages for the the Neighbourhood Plan. The parish is set in a National Landscape (formerly AONB) with the Bride Valley to the North and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site to the south. Minor roads link the villages, the only major route being the B3157 coast road which runs between the towns of Weymouth to the east and Bridport to the west.

The parish has a population of about 530 residents spread over the three villages and outlying settlements. Puncknowle and Swyre are set mainly in a mixture of agricultural land with West Bexington  being on Chesil Beach, an internationally important shingle habitat with a Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserve and some National Trust land.

The area supports over 40 businesses. Farming remains a key part of the local economy, a mixture of arable and livestock along with related businesses. The area is popular with holidaymakers and fishermen so tourism is also key, especially in the summer months.

A  Neighbourhood Plan is being developed by volunteers in the Parish to help guide future development and to safeguard the area’s special qualities. If you live or work in this beautiful part of Dorset your views are an important part of the future of the 3 Villages. You can find out more using our Contact form.

Meetings held recently, which were open to all:

Evidence Working Group met 5 February 5-7pm and the Steering Group met 21 February 7-9pm. Venue was Puncknowle Village Hall.

Upcoming meetings – info to be updated:

To learn more visit: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk search for “Neighbourhood Plans in Dorset”