New business units could bring jobs boost to Dorchester
There are plans for 21 new units at Poundbury
More business units are being planned at the Duchy of Cornwall’s Parkway Farm business site in Dorchester.
The 21 units, between Middle Farm Way and the town’s bypass, could provide a jobs boost for the area, if agreed.
It comes from Jade-Aden Services Ltd, based at the Holton Heath Trading Park at Poole and is similar to an application submitted in 2019 by another company which was granted permission, but not built.
The new units are to be in a similar style to those already there – red brick with black timber cladding, and vary in size from 93 square metres to 166 square metres, arranged in terraces with one detached unit. Each could add a mezzanine floor, if required.
The planning application for the 0.6 hectare site estimates that around 68 additional parking spaces could be provided adjacent to the units, with a dozen or more spaces for cycles.
Documents with the application to Dorset Council say the design follows the Duchy’s criteria for the third phase of the area with the buildings mainly placed around the perimeter of the plot with all but one of the units terraced. Each will have disabled access.
The previous application, which was broadly similar to the current one, was backed by Dorchester town council and did not attract any objections although one letter writer asked for an archaeological investigation of the site.
It was awarded full planning consent, with some later minor changes agreed, but was then caught up in the pandemic and not built.
The full application, P/FUL/2021/00684, can be seen on the Dorset Council website with public comments open until June 28th.
According to the Duchy of Cornwall website work began at Poundbury in October 1993 and by the time it is completed, in 2025/26, it will house 5,000 people and provide more than 2,000 jobs.
At the time of the 20th anniversary it already had 140 businesses, at the time employing 1,650 people.