The new Blandford Waste Management Centre

We’re pleased to share the latest progress on the new Blandford Waste Management Centre. The major project remains on track for completion by December 2026.

Since construction began in February, the project has hit all major targets.

Progress so far:

• the site compound (the area where workers and equipment are based) is nearly finished, with only road markings left to complete
• the main access road is almost complete, with the base layers laid up to the corner of the site
• drainage systems to manage rainwater and waste are progressing well
• the foundation work for the main building (referred to as the barn) is well underway
• the concrete walls for the building are being prepared, with the first section due to be poured soon
• over 17,625 tonnes of chalk have been dug out and reused, along with 1,438 tonnes of recycled stone
• the first 350 cubic metres of concrete have been poured to form the building’s foundations

The site contractor, Heidelberg Materials, continues to ensure the site is safe, secure, and well-managed, with proper facilities for workers.

In the next phase of work, the team will:

• finish laying the building’s foundations
• continue installing drainage systems, including connecting to the public sewer
• begin building retaining walls (which hold back soil) around the customer drop-off area
• install a large underground water tank to safely store rainwater and help manage fire safety if needed

This new centre will replace the outdated site at Blandford Heights Industrial Estate, which no longer meets the needs of Dorset’s growing waste services.

The new facility will offer:

• better access
• separate areas for public and commercial use
• stronger environmental protections

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: "The Blandford Waste Management Centre is a vital investment in Dorset’s future. It will provide a modern, efficient, and environmentally responsible facility for residents and businesses alike. I’m proud of the progress so far and grateful to everyone involved in delivering this important project."

Construction video

Watch a time-lapse video of construction work at the New Blandford Waste Management Centre in September 2025.

The existing site

The current site is an adapted grain store and in a poor condition.

The small recycling centre accommodates just 14 vehicles at any one time. It has poor accessibility due to steps to some containers and the site closes when full containers are collected adding to congestion on the access road.

The Waste Transfer Barn - where waste collected at the kerbside is gathered up before being taken away to recycling and treatment facilities - shares the same access road as the Household Recycling Centre (HRC) for lorries dropping waste off and taking it away, causing traffic issues for residents. Queuing traffic also causes disruption to neighbouring businesses by blocking access during the busiest periods each day.

The Waste Transfer Barn has no extra space, so there is no possibility for taking different kinds of waste in the future.

Site selection

The area to the south of Sunrise Business Park was confirmed as the preferred site due to location, accessibility and buildability.

The new site will have an access road from the Blandford Bypass near the Sunrise Business Park roundabout.

After entering the site, there will be a separate area at the HRC for the public to park and unload unwanted items. There would be no need to temporarily close the facility to empty full containers (which happens at the existing site) as our contractors will access the waste containers from the lower yard area.

The proposals also include separate access to the transfer barn for collection and waste transport vehicles. Dorset Council’s waste team has designed and built four replacement sites across the county and used their experience when devising these plans to maximise development potential while limiting the impact on the surrounding natural environment.

The layout and design took into consideration key factors for the useability of the site, whilst remaining sympathetic to its location, such as:

• visual impact
• operational requirements and efficiency
• sustainability
• cut/fill balance
• biodiversity
• ecology
• drainage
• impacts on amenity and local traffic

The design substantially draws from the successful Bridport Waste Management Centre which opened in 2015.
 

See a fly-through of the Proposed Blandford Waste Management Centre.

Site access

These include:

• access to the proposed site will be restricted to left turn in and left turn out
• the Higher Shaftesbury Road Roundabout will be used by motorists wishing to access the site when approaching from the east
• the Salisbury Road Roundabout will be used by motorists wishing to travel west when leaving the site
• this access arrangement removes conflict with vehicles turning right into the site delaying access on the Blandford Bypass and similarly for traffic leaving the site