Campaigners fighting a development for 4,000 houses on 500 acres of countryside north of Dorchester have expressed dismay that the controversial scheme has been included in Dorset Council’s revised Local Plan despite a ‘groundswell of opposition’.

The Dorchester North extension has been put forward as the ‘preferred option’ for housing in Dorset Council’s Local Plan, which is currently out for consultation until March 15.
But residents, councillors, campaign groups, including The Thomas Hardy Society and Dorchester Civic Society, and West Dorset MP Chris Loder have united against the option with the 38 Degrees Petition already securing more than 5,000 signatures.

Save the Area North of Dorchester (STAND) spokesman and Dorchester town councillor Alistair Chisholm said: “We have yet to locate a single person in town who is in favour of the development and we have seen considerable opposition from outside of the area – even as far as New Zealand.”

STAND claims the scheme will have devastating consequences on the environment including permanent damage to wildlife, light and noise pollution and fears over flooding and compromising a Bronze Age cemetery and a deserted village.

They also say the development is inconsistent with Dorset Council’s climate change commitment. Mr Chisholm said: “Despite a groundswell of opposition from all quarters, Dorset Council is pressing on with its plan to concrete over a vast area of farmland in its desire to satisfy central government housing targets. The risk of flooding from these large scale developments is now well evidenced. The consequences of covering over 500 acres of farmland in concrete were certainly not considered when this development was conceived.”

“We are now in a very different situation with extreme weather patterns becoming the norm. It does not take much imagination to envisage the future repercussions of building on land that directly overlooks Dorchester. The run-off into the Frome river plain and water meadows could be devastating. Dorset Council has already declared a climate emergency, it is our view this development is inconsistent with their legally binding climate change commitment, and adds further weight to a whole range of environmental issues that underpin our opposition.”

He added: “We have already demonstrated the permanent damage to the wildlife and habitats that will occur but equally important are the factors of CO2 emissions, light and noise pollution. The drain on resources will be immense, estimates vary but a development of this size will require thousands upon thousands of tonnes of concrete, just for the foundations.”

“The devastating effect on all aspects of our environment cannot be overstated. Dorset needs to be taking a lead on this local and global issue. We must do everything within our power to prevent large areas of Dorset being swallowed up by unnecessary developments.”

The North Dorchester Consortium of developers and landowners is backed by Persimmon Homes, one of the country’s biggest housebuilders.

MP Chris Loder said: “Persimmon does not have the best record here in Dorset and for 500 acres of greenbelt land of historical and environmental interest to be built on near Dorchester with almost 4,000 houses does not feel right to me. Our priority needs to be for good quality homes, for local people to be able to live and work here throughout the county, not just in a few places.”

“New homes need to support our village schools, shops, pubs, garages and churches through the county, not just in the county town. The Dorset environment and countryside should not be sacrificed to make up the £1bn annual profit of a developer, and that is why the community needs to respond to Dorset Council to ensure its local plan is delivering what we want and need.”

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.