CONSULTANTS have been hired by Dorset Council to advise on the controversial proposals for a 4,000-home 'garden community' north of Dorchester.

The proposal forms part of Dorset Council’s Local Plan, which will shape housing and employment in the county over the next 17 years.

Around 30,500 new homes are proposed for the county by 2038 - although the authority has said the plan is to find land for 39,000 houses.

The largest proportion of new house building will be allocated across Dorchester, Weymouth, Chickerell, and surrounding areas, which fall within the Central Dorset geographical area - including proposals for Dorset's largest new housing development of around 4,000 homes on green belt land north of Dorchester.

The council recently published public comments to its first draft of the Local Plan - revealing overwhelmingly negative views on that particular scheme.

But it has revealed consultants HYAS have now been taken on to develop the proposals, using government Garden Community funding to fully evaluate the options for the site.

Dorset Echo: A protest held by campaign group Save The Area North of Dorchester (STAND) was held earlier this yearA protest held by campaign group Save The Area North of Dorchester (STAND) was held earlier this year

A spokeswoman said: "Work continues on the policies that underpin the Dorset Council Local Plan to ensure that it provides Dorset residents with the accommodation, employment and facilities that they will need over the next 17 years. This includes the need to provide housing for people who cannot afford to buy or rent from the housing market.

"The Dorset Council Local Plan outlines the strategy for ensuring the growth that the area needs happens in the right places, and is of the right character and high quality, while protecting Dorset’s natural environment and responding to climate change. It also ensures that the right level of community services and facilities will be provided, including schools, retail, employment, leisure and other community facilities."

The authority said 'garden communities' are purpose-built new settlements, providing a mix of homes - including affordable and self-build - which provide jobs opportunities, attractive green spaces, transport infrastructure, community meeting places, schools and health centres.

A spokesperson said: "HYAS is working for and with the council on this project. They are experienced at dealing with large scale projects that involve visioning, masterplanning and placemaking, including involvement with several other Garden Community projects across the UK.

"They will further investigate the opportunities for the development, consider the constraints, strengths and weaknesses of the site and carry out consultation locally in developing a masterplan that will sit alongside the Dorset Council Local Plan."

The final draft of the Local Plan will be published in May 2022 for another round of consultation before it is voted on by the full council and submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in autumn 2022.

The Planning Inspector will then carry out a public examination in 2023.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “No decisions have been made about any of the proposed developments contained within the Dorset Council Local Plan. It is a long process. We gather together lots of evidence including viability studies, and residents’ comments to inform our proposals.

“HYAS is providing us with the skills and resources to investigate the possibilities for this site. Any decisions about this and all the other proposals in the Dorset Council Local Plan will be considered democratically by the Full Council before the plan goes out to the next residents’ consultation.”

The first consultation of the Dorset Council Plan was carried out between January and March this year. Around 9,000 people commented on the plan which can all be viewed on the council’s website.

More information about the Dorset Council Local Plan can be found at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/dorset-council-local-plan