BBC Dorset

Trevor Bevins,Local Democracy Reporter and Tristan Pascoe,Dorset Political ReporterDorset CouncilDorset Council said that national planning policy required it to expand its scope for new housing sitesMany Dorset sites identified for residential and commercial development are likely to be rejected because they contravene national policy or do not have the land owners' consent, according to one councillor.Former council leader Spencer Flower says there has been "a significant amount of public unrest," over some of the sites identified in the…

Firefighters have worked through the night to put out a fire at a thatched cottage in the New Forest.The blaze broke out at the house on the A35 Lyndhurst Road in Hinton on the Hampshire/Dorset border on Monday shortly before 21:00 GMT.Firefighters in 10 fire engines from Hampshire and Dorset Fire and Rescue Services along with an aerial ladder platform worked into the early hours of Tuesday to bring the flames under control.The fire service said there was…

DS Pugh/GeographLittle Green Change rejected a £4,825 grant offer from South West WaterAn environmental group says it has rejected a grant from a water company's community fund, saying it will not "participate in greenwashing".Little Green Change, based in Lyme Regis, Dorset, runs education projects for schools and organisations in South West England.The not-profit social enterprise said it rejected £4,825 from South West Water (SWW), accusing it of prioritising shareholders above investment to stop pollution.SWW said it was disappointed…

Drivers face three weeks of disruption as a busy section of dual carriageway closes for maintenance and repairs.The eastbound A35 Christchurch bypass in Dorset will be shut from Fountain Way roundabout from 18:00 GMT on Monday until 06:00 on 10 November.It will close westbound from Somerford Roundabout between 18:00 on 10 November and 06:00 on 17 November.The official 30-mile diversion is an hour-long route via the A338 Wessex Way, the A31 at Cadnam and the A35 via Ashurst…

Tristan PascoeDorset political reporterBBCThe Housemartin Tower and wildlife pond at Christchurch is in the middle of a housing estateAmbitious plans to bring nature into urban areas and make it "accessible to everyone" have been awarded funding in Hampshire and Dorset.The National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with partners Natural England and The National Trust, has provided more than £15m to be spent on "green projects" across the country.It hopes to attract close to £1bn of future funding to boost…

Josh Sandifordin BirminghamGetty ImagesSuppliers who worked on HMP Birmingham say they are owed hundreds of thousands of poundsThe government is facing questions over tens of millions of pounds owed to suppliers who worked on upgrades to three prisons in England.At least 40 companies are believed to be owed the money for work they carried out in Birmingham, Liverpool and Dorset, before lead contractor ISG entered administration in September.The small and medium-sized firms say they should have been protected…