On 29 March, Dorset Council completed the sale of the former North Dorset District Council Nordon site to Aster Communities Ltd. Detailed planning permission has already been granted and development is imminent.
The development will be a mix of social rent and shared ownership homes, consisting of one-bedroom maisonettes alongside two, three and four bedroom-houses.
Amanda Williams, Group Development Director at Aster said: “We’re delighted to be working with Drew Smith of Vistry Partnerships to deliver 40 new homes at Blandford Forum for shared ownership and social rent.
“The development will provide much needed affordable housing for families who may otherwise have been priced out of the area.
“We’ve listened to feedback to ensure our plans for the development are in keeping with the local architecture, and we’ll also be incorporating features from an existing building on the site. Many of the mature trees will also be integrated into the scheme which will include a local play area. We hope to start on site soon and we’re looking forward to seeing the first families moving into their new homes early in 2022.”
Affordable housing key ambition of Dorset Council Plan
Cllr Tony Ferrari, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property said: “We are delighted that the sale has now completed on this site. The council has received over £2m that will go back in to funding important services for Dorset.”
Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Portfolio holder for Housing and Community Safety, said: “Affordable housing is so important to Dorset. Delivering affordable housing is a key ambition of our Dorset Council Plan and this is a huge milestone in delivering that ambition, underpinning our commitment to help make Dorset a great place to live, work and visit.”
History of the site
In May 2017, the former North Dorset District Council agreed to sell Nordon. A conditional contract was exchanged with Aster in August 2018. The sale was conditional on them obtaining planning permission, which was granted last year.
Appalling to see the Nordon building allowed to be demolished. Shows how greedy the council is and how little history is valued.
Would Aster like to buy the Brutalist eyesore, disused, council offices in Weymouth, pretty please and do something as good-looking and useful with that?