A controversial redevelopment scheme in Blandford has finally been given detailed planning permission by Dorset Council.

The authority’s predecessor North Dorset District Council gave outline permission in February 2019 to demolish the Edwardian villa Nordon and redevelop the site in the town’s conservation area with 40 affordable homes.

The historic property had been the district council’s headquarters for over 50 years. The outline permission was given to Aster Housing and the proposal attracted more than 2,000 signatures against it. There have also been failed bids to overturn the decision and have the property listed.

On Tuesday, Dorset Council’s Northern Planning committee considered the detailed plans. which had been revised only slightly after being submitted in June last year and attracting objections from Blandford Town Council and Civic Society, amongst others, including the council’s own conservation officer.

Committee chairman Sherry Jespersen stressed that they could not revisit that outline approval, despite concerns that only 12 of the units were legally required to be affordable, saying the council was as confident as it could be that Aster would stick to their agreement to provide 40. Mr Lennis said the redesign had adequately addressed concerns, and there would be no harm to the conservation area in addition to that which would result from the already approved demolition of Nordon.

The application was approved by five votes to three.

Ward member Councillor Byron Quayle, speaking also for his fellow ward councillor Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, said he would not dwell on Blandford & District Civic Society’s petition or the ‘shameful’ way North Dorset District Council had made their decision, but urged councillors to reject what was overdevelopment with adverse impact on the townscape. “We are not Nimbies, but this is the wrong development here,” he said.

Retired architect John Turnbull feared the 40 affordable homes promised were unlikely to materialise, saying: “Within a very short space of time Aster will be submitting an application on the basis that the scheme is uneconomically viable, and these 28 units will become open market houses.”

The town council reaffirmed its earlier objection to the detailed application, saying the reduction in the enforceable affordable housing from 100 to 40 per cent significantly reduced the reason and justification for damaging the Conservation Area, and the design should better reflect the character of other buildings nearby within the conservation area.

They also called for the highest modern and energy efficient specifications.
After much discussion, the application was approved, proposed by Councillor Belinda Ridout and seconded by Council Brian Heatley.

Councillor Val Pothecary said: “This was always going to be a difficult one given the background. I have heard ‘acceptable’ a number of times during this debate – it’s not wonderful, it’s not great, it’s acceptable. I am disappointed that there are not more elements of significance and character, but you have good design with an affordable legacy.”

Support Us

Thank you all so, so much for the love and appreciation you’ve shown us since we launched the New Blackmore Vale.

Please show your support and add a review on our Facebook page or on Google.