West Dorset MP urges Michael Gove to review Dorset Local Plan
Chris Loder wants to block 4,000 homes planned for north of Dorchester
Last updated 11th May 2022
The MP for West Dorset is calling on Housing Secretary Michael Gove to review Dorset's Local Plan urgently.
Chris Loder wants to stop 4,000 new homes being built north of Dorchester.
Michael Gove met with Chris Loder at the opening of the Poundbury play area on Friday last week, where they were joined by Prince Charles and other dignitaries including Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Chris Loder urged Michael Gove to instigate an urgent review of the Dorset Local Plan in order to discontinue the proposed 4,000 home North of Dorchester.
Mr Loder expressed the concerns of Dorchester residents over the proposals for Persimmon Homes to be building thousands of houses on the outskirts of the town.
Mr Loder also spoke of the need to ensure the Local Plan focuses more on delivering for the needs of West Dorset communities and took the opportunity to press the need for more community housing and or community land trust initiatives to ensure local housing for local people.
Mr Loder said:
"The Local Plan needs to provide local housing for local people first, not just enormous developments that hoover life out of local villages. We need the right housing in the right areas enabling housing for families and working people to live here and to deliver services for the community, as well as supporting the rural economy.
"My intervention with the Minister has highlighted the need to change the way in which the local plan is constructed that will better match the supply of housing with the demand."