Useful for parish and town councils in and around Cranborne Chase and Dorset National Landscapes (AONBs).
The National Landscapes Association’s May 2026 briefing on Planning for Housing in National Landscapes (AONBs) sets out clear, practical guidance on how national planning policy applies within protected landscapes and their settings. It explains the strong legal duty on public authorities – including parish and town councils involved in neighbourhood planning – to seek to conserve and enhance natural beauty, while recognising that National Landscapes are living, working places where some development may be needed to meet genuine local needs.
The briefing is especially relevant for councils commenting on Local Plans, responding to planning applications, or preparing neighbourhood plans. It clarifies that local housing requirements do not have to match standard local housing need figures where National Landscape policies apply, highlights the high bar for major development, and places a strong emphasis on landscape‑led decision‑making and genuinely affordable housing for local communities.
Councillors with an interest in planning, landscape protection or community‑led housing are strongly encouraged to read the briefing in full. It provides a clear and authoritative summary of current policy and will help councils engage confidently and constructively in planning processes, particularly those affecting Cranborne Chase and its surrounding villages.
NLA briefing: Planning for Housing in National Landscapes (AONBs) in PDF
National Landscapes Association website | Cranborne Chase National Landscape website | Dorset National Landscape website
