Thank you to everyone who gave their feedback about the latest proposals for Bridport Gateway.
Over the summer we asked people to tell us what they thought of plans to build a new community development in Bridport.
Part of the council’s Building Better Lives programme, the aim of the development is to deliver new, high quality accommodation and services in Bridport for people with care needs.
The scheme will help meet the increasing demand for dementia care in the area. It will also boost the supply of extra care accommodation to help younger adults with disabilities and/or care needs to live more independently.
Essential keyworker housing for people employed in the care sector locally is another important feature of the scheme.
Feedback gathered over the summer
Together with our project partners, Shaw Healthcare, Morgan Sindall Later Living and East Boro Housing Trust, we asked for feedback about the proposals to help shape the scheme designs before a planning application is made.
Leaflets were sent to all residents living in Bridport and its surrounding villages about our proposals across two sites in the town centre – the Flood Lane site next to Morrisons and the Fisherman’s Arms site off South Street.
Residents were invited to submit comments via an online survey and four phone-in sessions. Written comments could also be submitted via email or post.
What did we learn?
We had a great response to the survey with more than 120 comments submitted through a range of channels.
Lots of you like the proposed development and see Bridport Gateway as something beneficial for the town. More than half of the responses to the online survey (41/66) were positive and queries were about checking the development would match your expectations
You are also happy to see that we are providing more affordable housing as part of the development, and that it is for key workers, locals and young people.
A handful of survey comments (4/66) raised concerns that the development will ghettoise elderly people in Bridport. We want the development to be the opposite of this. Our key aim is to ensure that those living in the scheme are part of the Bridport’s vibrant community scene. This is why the development will be close in the town centre, rather than out of town. We hope that Bridport Gateway residents will help increase footfall for local businesses and, in turn, support Bridport’s local economy.
Some of you were concerned about the height of the development, its density and whether it will be in keeping with existing buildings nearby. Some of you also said the development should be environmentally sustainable, while others raised concerns about parking and traffic management. The detailed design and planning process will address these issues, making sure that the development will fit with the surrounding area and be in line with Dorset Council’s emerging climate policies.
Frequently asked questions
There were some questions that cropped up several times which we would like to answer here:
How will the keyworker housing be allocated?
There will be a Local Lettings Plan agreed which will prioritise keyworker housing for local people working in health and care services in Bridport.
Our aim is for homes at the Fisherman’s Arms site to be available at a mixture of social rent levels or affordable rents. The keyworker housing tenancy is intended to be an annual rolling agreement to ensure that the units are always occupied by keyworkers and available as such in perpetuity.
What will the buildings look like in detail?
We don’t know yet. The comments people submitted over the summer will be fed into the detailed design phase. Once the developers have submitted the planning application you will be able to see the detailed submission and have your say as part of the formal consultation.
Will you keep the memorial stone and gardens at the old Bridport Connect building?
We will make sure a memorial is kept on the Flood Lane site and we will discuss this with residents when we get further into the design process.
Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health said:
“Thank you everyone who gave their feedback to our initial proposals for the Bridport Gateway scheme. We’re really heartened by the positive responses we received but will also be sure to take on board any concerns that have been raised as we move to the design phase.”
Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing said:
“The Bridport Gateway development aims to create places to live for people of all ages who have care needs. Thank you to everyone who got in touch. We have listened to your feedback and have shared it with our development partners so your views can help shape the design of the scheme as it moves forward.”
Next steps
We have reviewed and collated all of the feedback we received and have shared it with the developers so that they can factor your views into their designs for the scheme.
We are talking to residents in care homes, and people who receive care in their own homes, to ask their views on these proposals. We will also be talking to voluntary and community organisations in the area to get their comments, answer their questions and find ways of ensuring we can work together to provide a good range of activities in the Flood Lane site.
When the developers submit their planning applications there will be a formal consultation where you can comment on the detailed designs for the buildings on both the sites.
Find more information about Bridport Gateway.
