Garden community proposal – Council appoints consultants to consider future plans for growth

Work continues on the policies that underpin the Dorset Council Local Plan to ensure that it provides Dorset residents with the accommodation, employment and facilities that they will need over the next 17 years. This includes the need to provide housing for people who cannot afford to buy or rent from the housing market.

The Dorset Council Local Plan outlines the strategy for ensuring the growth that the area needs happens in the right places, and is of the right character and high quality, while protecting Dorset’s natural environment and responding to climate change. It also ensures that the right level of community services and facilities will be provided, including schools, retail, employment, leisure and other community facilities.

The Council is using Garden Community capacity funding from National Government to fully evaluate all the options for the North Dorchester (DOR 13) development proposal. They are employing experienced consultants HYAS to work with the Council in formulating specific policy guidance and master planning to help guide the delivery of any future development, with specific consideration being given to the formulation of an aspirational vision, development objectives and qualities of place.

Garden Communities are:

• purpose-built new settlements, or large extension to existing settlements
• a community with a clear identity and attractive environment
• provide a mix of homes, including affordable and self-build
• planned by local authorities in consultation with the local community

As well as building new homes, the communities include:

• job opportunities on site and in local area
• attractive green space and public realm areas for people and for wildlife including sports pitches, community orchards and allotments
• transport infrastructure, including walking and cycling routes, public transport and roads
• community meeting spaces, schools, and health centres
• a plan for long-term stewardship of community assets

HYAS are working for and with the council on this project. They are experienced at dealing with large scale projects that involve visioning, masterplanning and placemaking, including involvement with several other Garden Community projects across the UK. They will further investigate the opportunities for the development, consider the constraints, strengths and weaknesses of the site and carry out consultation locally in developing a masterplan that will sit alongside the Dorset Council Local Plan. The final draft of the Local Plan will be published in May 2022 for another round of consultation before it is voted on by the full council and submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in autumn 2022. The Planning Inspector will then carry out a public examination in 2023. If found sound, the masterplan for north of Dorchester will form the basis for the development of the site.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:

“No decisions have been made about any of the proposed developments contained within the Dorset Council Local Plan. It is a long process. We gather together lots of evidence including  viability studies, and residents’ comments to inform our proposals.

“HYAS are providing us with the skills and resources to investigate the possibilities for this site. Any decisions about this and all the other proposals in the Dorset Council Local Plan will be considered democratically by the Full Council before the plan goes out to the next residents’ consultation.”

The first consultation of the Dorset Council Plan was carried out between January and March this year. Around 9,000 people commented on the plan which can all be viewed on the council’s website.

Find out more about the Dorset Council Local Plan 

The podcast and webinars developed for the consultation are still available.