His comments came as the council agreed to change tack for the current Dorset Local Plan and use a new procedure which will add delay, and extra cost, to the process. “Local Plans take far, far too long. The previous deadline for the Local Plan had been December 2026 – with more than 9,000 public comments made about the proposals, which will be considered for the new plan. Dorset Council said continuing under the old system carried a significant risk of failure or immediate obsolescence. A completed Local Plan would give the council stronger control over where homes, employment land and infrastructure are located.