WEST Dorset District Council’s head of planning has stressed that no final decision has yet been made on whether its local plan is considered sound.

Cllr Sarah East recently told members at a full meeting of the council that the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland local plan was now likely to proceed without any further allocations of land required.

However, head of planning Hilary Jordan said the proposals still needed to be considered by the planning inspector responsible.

She said: “It is very positive that we have reached this next step in the plan process, and that our further work on housing land supply has shown improvements.

“But we have not had any positive confirmation from the inspector.

“He will examine the responses to the current consultation, and consider whether we should make additional modifications, or whether any further hearing sessions are required, before publishing his report.

“Only when we receive that report will we know whether or not he considers the plan to be sound.”