New phase of luxury holiday homes to be built at Warmwell Silverlake site

The fifth phase, for 38 holiday homes at Shepperd’s View, includes boat stores, ancillary buildings, a gym and communal areas. It sits in the central area of the development to the north of Baxter’s Rise.

Habitat First Group had submitted dozens of documents to Dorset Council for approval including details of the four and five-bed homes, landscaping and new roads.

The site, and inset, proposed layout of the new phase (Habitat First Group)

The company acquired the 560-acre site in 2011 and runs an award-winning similar development at Lower Mill in the Cotswolds.

Four ‘village’ sites have already been developed at Silverlake, including a spa and play areas, with the company reporting 2020 as its best year so far for sales and interest. Many of the properties are second homes for family holiday use, other are rented out.

• Read more: 573 jobs to be created at holiday home site that opens its doors to first residents in weeks

The latest phase takes its name from pilot Sergeant Edmund Shepperd who served at the nearby Second World War Warmwell airfield. Other phases have also taken their names from those who served at the airfield, including Beaumont Village, Wakeling Island and Overton Island which are either complete or almost finished.

Beaumont Village at Silverlake

The latest phase to gain approval includes a feature ‘lighthouse’ four-bed home and properties which take their influence from Dorset barns as well as outbuildings, a gym, a communal jetty onto the lake and private jetties for several of the homes.

• Read more: Extension work at Silverlake could go on for another seven months

Part of the latest development includes additional landscaping to include feature and native trees and a planted bund similar to a Devon hedge bank around the northern edge of the village with bands of trees throughout the site.

Silverlake is accessed from the former quarry road which joins Warmwell Road near Crossways. The site forms part of a much larger area granted permission for up to 1,000 homes which includes areas of woodland and heath.