Dartmoor National Park Authority has launched its Call for Sites as part of the preparation of the Emerging Dartmoor Local Plan 2026, providing landowners, developers and other interested parties with an opportunity to put forward land for potential future development.

The Call for Sites is an important early stage in shaping the future of planning and development across Dartmoor National Park. It allows potential development opportunities to be identified and considered as part of the Authority's preparation of its new Local Plan, which will establish the planning strategy and policies for the National Park over the coming years.

For landowners with suitable land or property, this presents an opportunity to bring forward sites that may have potential for development and ensure they are considered during the plan-making process.

What is the Emerging Dartmoor Local Plan 2026?

The Dartmoor National Park Authority is preparing a new Local Plan to replace its existing planning framework and guide future development across the National Park.

The Emerging Dartmoor Local Plan 2026 will look ahead over approximately 15 years, establishing a vision, spatial strategy and planning policies for the area. It will also identify potential development sites and provide the framework against which future planning applications will be assessed.

The new plan will combine the Local Plan with the Minerals and Waste Plan, bringing together the policies and development strategy for the National Park within one planning document.

The preparation of the plan will involve several stages of consultation, technical assessments and engagement with local communities, landowners, developers and other stakeholders.

The Call for Sites is one of the first opportunities for landowners and interested parties to contribute directly to this process.

What is the Call for Sites?

The Call for Sites invites landowners, developers, community groups and local residents to identify land or buildings that may offer opportunities for future development or other uses.

The Authority is seeking a broad range of potential sites to help establish what land may be available to meet the future needs of communities and businesses within Dartmoor National Park.

The types of sites being considered include:

Housing: Affordable housing and specialist housing to meet local needs.
Employment and business: Land for commercial, employment and business development.
Community facilities: Opportunities for new or improved community facilities.
Gypsy and Traveller accommodation: Potential sites for pitches.
Mixed-use development: Sites that could accommodate a combination of uses.
Renewable energy: Small-scale renewable and low-carbon energy proposals.
Local Green Spaces: Land that may be suitable for designation as Local Green Space.
Minerals and waste: Sites that may support future minerals and waste requirements.

This provides an opportunity for landowners to put forward a variety of sites, including land adjoining existing settlements, previously developed land and buildings, and other locations that may have potential to contribute towards the future needs of the National Park.

What makes a site suitable?

Submitting a site does not automatically mean it will be considered suitable for development or allocated within the new Local Plan. The Authority will undertake further assessments to establish the suitability, availability and potential deliverability of sites.

However, Dartmoor National Park Authority has indicated that sites are more likely to be suitable where they:

Adjoin an existing settlement.
Are well connected to the existing built form of a village or settlement.
Can be integrated into the surrounding area without creating inappropriate ribbon development or sporadic patterns of growth.
Are proportionate in scale to the character and size of the settlement.

Sites that reinforce existing settlement patterns and respond positively to their surroundings are generally more likely to be considered favourably than isolated sites or those extending into the open countryside.

As Dartmoor is a nationally designated landscape, any potential development will also need to be considered carefully in relation to landscape character, environmental constraints, access, infrastructure and the purposes of the National Park.

It is therefore important to consider the planning context of a site before putting it forward, particularly where there may be opportunities or constraints that could influence its future development potential.

How can Tandem Architects help?

At Tandem Architects, we can assist landowners, developers and property owners in identifying and promoting potential development sites as part of the Emerging Dartmoor Local Plan 2026.

We understand that putting forward land for consideration involves more than simply identifying a site on a location plan. It is important to present the land clearly, explain its potential and demonstrate how any proposed development could respond to the surrounding settlement, landscape and planning context.

Our services can include:

Initial site appraisal: Reviewing the site, its location and surrounding development to establish its potential suitability.
Planning policy review: Considering relevant national planning policy, Dartmoor National Park planning policies and the emerging Local Plan context.
Site identification and drawings: Preparing suitable site location plans, boundary plans and indicative layouts to clearly identify the land being promoted.
Development potential: Considering potential uses, including residential, affordable housing, employment and mixed-use opportunities.
Supporting information: Preparing a written planning statement or supporting submission outlining the site's characteristics, potential opportunities and relevant planning considerations.
Submission assistance: Helping complete and coordinate the Call for Sites submission to Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Where appropriate, we can also advise on whether additional technical information or specialist consultant input may be beneficial in supporting a site's promotion.

Our aim is to help landowners present their sites in a clear, considered and professionally prepared manner, giving the Authority the relevant information needed to undertake its initial assessment.

What is the submission deadline?

The Dartmoor National Park Authority's Call for Sites is currently open:

With the deadline of 26 February 2027 approaching, we encourage interested landowners to make contact at an early stage so that there is sufficient time to review the site and prepare a considered submission.