North of Dorchester Garden Community
The area north of Dorchester was initially proposed as a development site in the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan preferred options consultation in 2018. The comments on these proposals can be viewed via our consultation response search and within the summary of the comments on Chapter 11 for Dorchester. Subsequent to this consultation, a bid was made to the MHCLG Garden Communities Programme. This bid was successful and the council has been awarded a capacity fund of £150,000 to help further evaluate the feasibility of the North Dorchester site.
The area was included as a proposed allocation within the Dorset Council Local Plan consultation in 2021. The comments on these proposals can be viewed via our consultation response search and within the summary of the comments on draft policy DOR13: North of Dorchester.
We are using some of the Garden Communities Programme funding to undertake further site assessment work and evaluate options for the North Dorchester development proposal. We commissioned a Heritage Impact Assessment to help consider the implications of development of the land to the north of Dorchester for the historic environment.
The North of Dorchester Garden Community Masterplan
We have also appointed experienced consultants Hyas Associates to work with us on a site wide masterplan document to help guide the delivery of any future development.
Work continues on the North Dorchester Garden Community Masterplan, but we have published a draft document.
The draft masterplan sets out a clear vision and objectives which provides the basis for an approach for the site's development and provides information on four key matters which have been identified. We are asking for feedback on the site and these key matters through our 2025 Local Plan Consultation.
We will take the responses to this consultation into account when considering the most appropriate approach to the future development of the site. The final version of the masterplan will also be the subject of future consultation.
Further information
Supporting material for the Garden Communities Bid
- North Dorchester Location Plan 1a
- North Dorchester Location Plan 1b
- North Dorchester Strategic Framework Plan
- North Dorchester Land Ownership Plan
- North Dorchester Draft Governance Arrangements
- North Dorchester High Level Viability Appraisal
- North Dorchester Key Milestones
- North Dorchester Annual Housing Trajectory