Dorchester is standing at a crossroads. A huge new development proposed for land north of the town has ignited fierce debate — with campaigners, heritage groups and local residents warning that Dorset’s historic heart could be changed forever.
The Plan for North Dorchester
Developers Grainger plc and Wyatt Homes, acting as the North Dorchester Consortium, have submitted a scoping document to Dorset Council — the first formal step toward creating the North Dorchester Garden Community.
The project could see up to 3,750 new homes built over coming years, beginning with an initial phase of around 850 dwellings. The plan includes employment land, schools, shops, leisure facilities, and a new road linking the A35 and A37.
Developers describe the scheme as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to meet housing needs while creating a sustainable community. Their outline proposals highlight renewable energy systems, high-efficiency homes, biodiversity enhancements, and a Frome Valley Country Park to protect nearby water meadows.
Public consultation events are due to take place before a full planning application is submitted later this year.
The plans have drawn an outcry from local campaign groups, including STAND (Save The Area North of Dorchester), the Thomas Hardy Society, CPRE Dorset, and Dorchester Town Council.
Opponents fear the development will destroy open countryside, overwhelm local infrastructure and erode the literary landscape immortalised by Thomas Hardy.
“This isn’t just about housing numbers — it’s about what kind of place Dorchester wants to be,”
This is a cultural struggle over whether our town remains the type of place Hardy would recognise.”
Said Mark Chutter, chair of the Thomas Hardy Society
Campaigners also warn of pressure on water supplies, pollution risks, increased traffic and strain on GP surgeries and schools. STAND argues that “thousands of homes already have permission across Dorset but remain unbuilt,” questioning the need for another large-scale project.
A spokesperson for the consortium said environmental and community concerns were being “taken seriously” and pledged “meaningful public engagement” in the months ahead.
The developers’ move comes as Dorset Council finalises its new Local Plan, which will set out where future growth should take place across the county. By submitting its Environmental Impact Assessment scoping document now, the consortium establishes key parameters before any new planning policies take effect.
Supporters say this ensures Dorchester’s growth happens in a planned, coordinated way. Critics see it as an attempt to pre-empt council policy and public consultation.
Dorset Council will respond to the scoping document later this autumn.
The full planning application is expected to follow before the end of 2025.
Activists are organising community meetings, petition drives and demonstrations to pressure councillors into rejecting or amending the plans.
If approved, the scheme would be one of the largest housing developments ever undertaken in Dorset.
For many, the outcome will determine whether Dorchester remains a compact county town surrounded by Hardy’s countryside — or expands into a new urban sprawl stretching to the River Frome.
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