“THE proposed scheme offers little or no benefit to Blandford St Mary.”
That is the reaction of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) to a planning application for 135 homes on land north of Ward’s Drove, near the village and south of Blandford Forum.
The application, submitted by Hallam Land Management, says a “mix of house types” would be built on the site, including affordable homes, as well as green space.
But the proposal has been met with opposition from the CPRE, along with Blandford St Mary Parish Council.
“The proposed scheme offers little or no benefit to Blandford St Mary but rather swamps the ‘hamlet’ of Lower Blandford St Mary and its listed church and houses,” a statement from the CPRE and the parish council said.
“Moreover, the ancient way of Ward’s Drove will lose its definition.”
The groups said the area has a housing land supply in excess of that required in the North Dorset development plan, which they say make the application unnecessary.
The site where the 135 new homes are planned. Picture: CPRE
“The housing target for Blandford Forum and St Mary in the North Dorset Local Plan is at least 1,200 homes, and the September 2023 Housing Land Supply report showed that 1,225 homes will be delivered by 2031,” the statement went on.
“There is no need for more housing, particularly since the recent approval of a further 490 homes in north Blandford and Pimperne, and certainly not for this speculative development on a site unallocated by both the North Dorset Local Plan and the Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan.”
They said the scheme was “unsustainable”, with “most shops and services well over a mile away”.
“It will result in ribbon development threatening the green corridor that separates Blandford St Mary from Charlton Marshall, and the separate identity of both villages,” they added.
“Blandford’s infrastructure – particularly its schools and medical practice – is already under serious strain.”
Cllr Malcolm Albery, chair of BSMPC, said: “Blandford St Mary Parish and its environment is being destroyed by unnecessary development.
“The only beneficiaries of this scheme (are) the landowner and Hallam Group.”
READ MORE: Plan for 135 new homes on land near Blandford
However, the planning application said the “robust, high-quality, sustainable residential development” would be a benefit to the area.
“A key feature of the proposals is the integration of the North Dorset Trailway from Ward’s Drove at the southern boundary through the site to the northern boundary, where it is planned to continue through the adjacent development to a new controlled crossing at grade of the A354 Blandford Bypass,” it said.
“The new route away from its current alignment on the A350 will create an attractive, convenient and direct pedestrian and cycle connection that can be used to access local services and facilities and make it more attractive as a long distance recreational route.”
People can view the full plans, and comment on the proposal, at https://planning.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk, searching for application reference P/FUL/2023/07266.
I understand that people need a home. But the infrastructure cannot cope. Schools, Gp’s, transport, recreation. Totally unreasonable.
I support the preservation of the existing features of Blandford St Mary and lower Blandford St Mary with its listed buildings and church. The proposed housing development would offer no enhancement to the area and would encourage more vehicles onto a very busy road.
Far too much development of green field sites and flood plains. Apart from the fact that so much development is totally unnecessary, services such as GP surgeries and schools cannot cope with the added pressure on their services.