North Dorchester: Roundabouts, roads and concerns answered

North Dorchester is ‘being considered’ as a possible location for new homes as part of the Government's garden communities initiative.

The plans for the site include a school, a 200-acre park and three areas of housing with a commercial centre with shops and businesses, offering up to 3,500 homes.

Throughout proposals the consortium that have been developing the plans have also promised an ease to the congestion through the town centre and Puddletown bypass.

The proposed ‘Northern Link Road’ will tie together the A35, A37, the A352 and the C12 to Sherborne.

Given that the current A35 layout is a one-way road between the Kingston Maurward roundabout and Bere Regis roundabout, the Echo asked how a resident would be able to access the town without going back on themselves.

The North Dorchester consortium spokesperson said that a new roundabout on the A35 between the dual carriageway and the roundabout at Kingston Maurward, shown in their masterplan will be built.

“This link will allow traffic heading from east to north or from west to north to avoid the southern bypass and the High Street, relieving congestion on these routes,” the spokesperson said.

They added that those heading west to the A37 will have the option to exit the A35 at the new junction, which will free up the road to the south and ‘should help’ to ease congestion.

The plans for the area of the site north of Dorchester were developed in 2021 following the consultation of the Dorset Council Local Plan.

The newest local plan is yet to be announced but according to current timescales from the consortium, construction of the site could start in 2028.

READ MORE: Images released of park as part of 3,500-home scheme

The Government’s garden communities initiative is a £15m project which aims to build thousands of new homes and neighbourhoods across Britain.

‘North Dorchester’ was named in the plan back in May last year as part of 43 towns and villages. It was allocated £135k for this project and is the only one of its kind in Dorset.

The proposed area is an arc of land from Charminster round to Stinsford, taking in the area just north of the watermeadows and the River Frome.

The artist’s impression of the location was revealed back in May and received concern from locals who have oppose the plan.  

As previously reported, the Save The Area North of Dorchester (STAND) group have held protest marches as they continue to oppose the plans, while a busy public meeting was held at Dorchester Town Hall in March to run through the latest on the scheme.

Speaking more about the opposition to the development of the site, a spokesperson from North Dorchester Consortium said: “There is a significant housing need both in Dorchester and across Dorset, and the proposed new homes within the North Dorchester Garden Community will do a great deal towards meeting that need, sensibly and sustainably.”

The proposed map of North Dorchester, showing the nature trails between the main town, a school in the centre and a new cemetery north of the site. 

They went on to say that from their own studies of quizzing 760 local households, 57 per cent of residents across all age groups support the building of new homes in the area, however this makes no mention to the North Dorchester site as part of this.

Support for development by people aged 18-29 was also highlighted by the spokesperson, with 86 per cent saying they’d like to see housing development to the local area.

The spokesperson said: “Although there is understandably some trepidation, the younger you are and the more precarious your housing situation, the more likely you are to support new development.”

“The North Dorchester Consortium believes that Dorchester is a very special place, and the project team takes its responsibilities extremely seriously.  We are determined to ensure that the development will improve and enhance Dorchester as a whole. The Consortium is aware of local sensitivities and the development will be designed with this in mind,” they added.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning said: “The emerging local plan will set out a vision and strategy for future sustainable development across the Dorset Council area to provide much-needed housing and work opportunities so that the county can thrive and remain a great place to live, work and visit.”

The councillor went on to say that no decisions have been made yet about any of the sites to be included in the new Local Plan.

Cllr Walsh also said: “The  involvement of local communities whose views are vital in shaping the success of any future garden village in the event that it is confirmed as an allocation in the Local Plan.

The consortium mentioned that no figures have been agreed for the North Dorchester Garden Community in terms of a Section 106 agreement. This agreement between the developer and the council ensures these large construction projects fund improvements which are calculated.  

The spokesperson for the consortium said that this will be discussed and at the planning application stage.

For more information on the plans, visit www.northdorchester.org.uk