Concerns over North Dorchester housing after Lyscombe Farm purchase
Dorset Wildlife Trust's bought the land, paving the way for 3,700 homes
There are fears that thousands of new homes could be built north of Dorchester, following the purchase of Lyscombe Farm nearby.
West Dorset MP Chris Loder says he thinks the so-called 'Norchester' development 'will happen' as a result of Dorset Wildlife Trust buying the land.
It's thought the 833 acre nature reserve created there will enable 3,700 homes to be built, by offsetting the nutrient changes in the Poole Harbour Catchment Area.
Chris Loder MP said:
“I fear that Dorset Wildlife Trust’s purchase of Lyscombe Farm will now enable the 3,500 home development north of Dorchester to happen. The proposal to build between 3,500 to 4,000 homes on greenfield land to the north of Dorchester risks becoming a reality, as housing developers can purchase nutrient mitigation credits to offset their developments.”
"I have petitioned the Council to ensure the priority for development goes to small developers and for the planning applications that have been in the queue for years because of nutrient neutrality issues.
“Only the newly-elected Liberal Democrat/Green administration on Dorset Council can now stop this enormous development from proceeding and I shall be writing to the new Cabinet member for Planning shortly. I will continue to heavily scrutinise the details over the coming months.”
There have been a number of protests by local residents calling for 'Norchester' to be removed from the Local Plan for housing.