Flats agreed for site near ancient Roman Hillfort in Dorchester
The development site is alongside Poundbury Hillfort, close to the line of a Roman aqueduct
Six flats in a two-storey block have been agreed for a grassland site east of Hillfort House at Poundbury Road, Dorchester.
The application for a mix of two and one-bed units from Coombe Construction Ltd, based in Surrey, has been approved by Dorset Council.
The site is alongside the ancient Poundbury hillfort and close to the line of a Roman aqueduct, but a planning report claims that the building would have no significant effect on the monument and was not likely to disturb archaeological remains.
There is already buildings on the site although these were objected to when originally proposed because of the ‘harm’ they would cause to the setting of the hillfort. The existing blocks were originally offices but were later converted to flats.
The latest development proposes the use of air source heat pumps and the developer has also offered to fit electric car charging points in the car park where there will be a loss of five spaces as a result of the development.
Neither Dorchester town council or the ward councillors had commented on the application with Historic England deciding that the flats would cause “less than substantial harm”to the scheduled monument.
The county archaeology team has asked for any finds to be recorded during the building work.