by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Plans for the first phase of the North Dorchester Garden Community are due to be submitted shortly – marking the start of the formal planning process.
The initial plans are for up to 500 energy-efficient homes north of the county town, between Stinsford and Charminster. Other phases will follow bringing the total to more than 3,000.
Developers behind the proposals say the first tranche of housing will be for land close to Stinsford Hill between the A35 and B3143 Slyer’s Lane. The proposals include the new homes, as well as a new neighbourhood centre to meet local needs, including shops, services, and community buildings, and new footpath and cycle links.
Community woodlands, parks and play space are included within this first phase, along with sustainable drainage features designed to help manage water, reflecting the intention for the garden community developers, according to their news release, to deliver homes and supporting infrastructure together from the outset.
Up to 175 of the new homes will be affordable homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and discounted local sale, providing a significant boost to affordable housing provision in Dorchester.
The North Dorchester Consortium, comprising Grainger plc and Wyatt Homes, is leading the delivery of the North Dorchester Garden Community. This first planning application is being submitted by Grainger plc on land within its control. The planning application will be submitted by Derwent Developments Ltd, a subsidiary of Grainger plc.
Said Associate Director for Grainger plc Mohan Sidhu: “The larger application for the whole site naturally takes longer to prepare due to its size and complexity, so submitting the planning application for this first phase now means we can start delivering the benefits of the development earlier, such as new affordable housing, whilst we finesse the proposals for the wider site.”
Further details of the planning application will be made available once it has been formally submitted to Dorset Council. The planning application for the remainder of the North Dorchester Garden Community will follow later this year.
The proposals have been widely criticised with opposition from a variety of organisations, including a group, STAND, dedicated to opposing the scheme, along with Dorchester Town Council.
For further information about the proposals visit: www.northdorchester.org.uk
