Post by Poundbury on Jul 28, 2008 12:51:53 GMT 1
www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.2410766.0.7_000_new_homes_in_next_20_years.php
7,000 new homes in next 20 years
By Sarah Goldthorpe
DORCHESTER is set to double in size in the next 20 years.
The government's Regional Spatial Strategy has earmarked a total of 7,000 new homes for the town in the next two decades.
The plan originally envisaged 4,000 homes, including the ongoing development at Poundbury.
But now local government secretary Hazel Blears wants a separate urban extension' of 3,000 additional homes.
No sites have yet been identified for the extra new homes.
West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said councillors were worried by the plan, which would mean Dorchester households would nearly double in number, from 8,200.
Mr Gould said: "This is very significant for Dorchester, and we are very concerned about the impact."
Dorchester town councillor Robin Potter said: "This is certainly of concern.
"But Dorchester is as a good a place as any for extra housing if we can find the right place.
"It will certainly be a challenge to find a suitable place for all of it. Councils will have to look very carefully at where these new dwellings can go.
"We must avoid putting development on the flood plain and we don't just want a big housing estate plonked wherever the Government wants it."
Coun Potter said housing location was a big issue. But added that Poundbury had proved to be a successful addition.
He said: "The over-riding aspect is we want to keep Dorchester as a nice market town but we realise there are lots of people wanting to live in this wonderful pleasant area."
The Government plan is under consultation until October.
It says West Dorset must provide a total of 12,500 homes in the next 20 years - including 700 in the Chickerell area. Weymouth and Portland must provide 5,600.
In January, West Dorset District Council will hire consultants to look at areas where extra housing could go.
District councils, Dorset County Council and Natural England will now all respond to the plan.
It will then be left to district councils to set aside land for developments.
7,000 new homes in next 20 years
By Sarah Goldthorpe
DORCHESTER is set to double in size in the next 20 years.
The government's Regional Spatial Strategy has earmarked a total of 7,000 new homes for the town in the next two decades.
The plan originally envisaged 4,000 homes, including the ongoing development at Poundbury.
But now local government secretary Hazel Blears wants a separate urban extension' of 3,000 additional homes.
No sites have yet been identified for the extra new homes.
West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said councillors were worried by the plan, which would mean Dorchester households would nearly double in number, from 8,200.
Mr Gould said: "This is very significant for Dorchester, and we are very concerned about the impact."
Dorchester town councillor Robin Potter said: "This is certainly of concern.
"But Dorchester is as a good a place as any for extra housing if we can find the right place.
"It will certainly be a challenge to find a suitable place for all of it. Councils will have to look very carefully at where these new dwellings can go.
"We must avoid putting development on the flood plain and we don't just want a big housing estate plonked wherever the Government wants it."
Coun Potter said housing location was a big issue. But added that Poundbury had proved to be a successful addition.
He said: "The over-riding aspect is we want to keep Dorchester as a nice market town but we realise there are lots of people wanting to live in this wonderful pleasant area."
The Government plan is under consultation until October.
It says West Dorset must provide a total of 12,500 homes in the next 20 years - including 700 in the Chickerell area. Weymouth and Portland must provide 5,600.
In January, West Dorset District Council will hire consultants to look at areas where extra housing could go.
District councils, Dorset County Council and Natural England will now all respond to the plan.
It will then be left to district councils to set aside land for developments.
