West Dorset’s MP Chris Loder fears that the 3,500-house North of Dorchester development ‘will happen’ following Dorset Wildlife Trust’s multi-million-pound purchase of 833 acres at Lyscombe Farm – situated 10 miles north of Dorchester.
The Trust’s purchase is said to enable 3,700 new homes to be built in Dorset, offering nutrient mitigation credits to housing developers to offset their developments in the Poole Harbour Catchment Area.
West Dorset’s 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.”
He added: ‘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.”
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