CAMPAIGNERS fighting a controversial housing development have criticised the government for spending public money on the scheme.

As reported, a £150,000 boost is being awarded to support the proposed development of 3,500 houses north of Dorchester. It would help to finance the planning process.

The development has just been granted 'Garden Village' status by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government – a move that campaigners have described as "outrageous".

Kate Hebditch of the group Save The Area North of Dorchester (STAND) said: "It’s outrageous if this public money is going to a consortium that has the backing of a development company that makes huge profits.

"We have seen no evidence that the proposal is a ‘Garden Village’. It cannot be adequately connected to Dorchester and it would harm our environment and heritage, damage our tourism industry and overstretch local services.

"We hope the £150,000 is used for specialist reports that will show that this is NOT the site for a 3,500 house ‘Garden Village’ and we are disappointed the local authority did not identify any brownfield sites for such a proposal."

Dorset Council chiefs described the award as "great news" – but said a decision is yet to be made over the site's future – and said that previous local development plans are being scrapped in favour of a new Dorset-wide plan that would be adopted in 2023.

Cllr Peter Wharf, deputy leader of Dorset Council said: “The former West Dorset District Council submitted a bid for Garden Communities funding last year. It is great news this has now been approved.

"The Garden Communities funding will help us to carry out all the necessary studies to help us make decisions about the development in future, and ensure that any development is well designed and has the right infrastructure."

Cllr Wharf said that some of the proposals made by the former councils will remain in place "where appropriate", and that the new Dorset Council local plan will go through a public consultation before it is formally adopted in 2023.

n The government Garden Communities programme was set up to support 'Garden Villages', which are described as smaller settlements of between 1,500 and 10,000 homes.

Kit Malthouse, Minister of State for Housing said the Garden Villages' funding is being awarded to help during the planning process for the north Dorchester development, which is one of 19 proposed developments in the UK to have been designated 'Garden Village' status.