Dorset Council’s new Local Plan includes suggestions on areas where 6,500 new homes could be built in Wimborne, Ferndown and Verwood.
Residents are being urged to take part in two major consultations that will shape the way the county grows over the next 15 to 20 years.
The Local Plan and the Local Transport Plan, which are legal requirements for all councils in England, set out where new homes and businesses can be developed and how people will travel safely and sustainably in the future.
In total, over 30,000 new homes could be built in Dorset over the next 20 years.
The consultations, which began today and run for eight weeks, are being promoted under the banner “Dorset is Changing” and aim to involve people from all walks of life. Councillors say they want to hear directly from residents about issues such as affordable housing, job opportunities and better, greener transport options.
The latest draft of the Local Plan has been updated following earlier feedback and now includes new site options for housing across the county. Alongside it, the Local Transport Plan, developed with Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, looks at making travel cleaner, safer and more reliable.
In Ferndown, around 2,000 new homes are proposed in areas including surrounding the Longham roundabouts and Canford Bottom.
- North west of Longham roundabouts – 325 homes
- South east of Longham roundabouts – 637 homes
- Land opposite former Dudsbury Golf Course – 60 homes
- South-west of Longham roundabout – 208 homes
- Land to north and south of Ham Lane, Colehill – 498 homes
- Land between Award Road and Stapehill Road – 168 homes
- Land south of Canford Bottom Junction – 77 homes
- Misty Meadows – 43 homes
In Wimborne/Colehill, another 3,500 new homes are also proposed in 23 locations.
- Cottage Farm – 60 homes
- Canford Bottom & Udden’s (east) – 220 homes
- Land east of Pilford Heath Road – 609 homes
- Land at Canford Bottom – 75 homes
- Land at Colehill – 83 homes
- South of Colehill Lane – 266 homes
- Land at Northleigh Lane (South) – 31 homes
- Land at Northleigh Lane (North) – 113 homes
- Land North of Wimborne Road – 124 homes
- Land off Willow Drive – 306 homes
- Land south of Leigh Road – 120 homes
- Walford Farm & Longhow (West) – 82 homes
- Land south west of Smugglers Lane – 118 homes
- Walford Farm & Longhow (East). Horns Inn, Burts Hill – 163 homes
- East Dorset Council Offices – 40 homes
- Wimborne Road West – 44 homes
- Land to the west of Cranborne Road – 157 homes
- Land at Leigh Road – 410 homes
- Jades Farm – 151 homes
- Land adjacnet to eastern entrance of Stone Park – 44 homes
- Leigh Farm (site 1) – 131 homes
- Leigh Farm (site 2) – 30 homes
- Northleigh Lane – 40 homes
In Verwood/3X, over 1,200 new homes could be created on the Crane Valley Golf site, along with other areas around the town. The proposal says the new homes would need to be served by public transport and a loop road would be recommended.
- Crane Valley Golf Club – 984 homes
- North of Edmondsham Road – 139 homes
- Land West of Manor Road – 195 homes
- Land to the west of Albany Drive, Three Legged Cross – 118 homes
Councillor Shane Bartlett, Cabinet Member for Planning and Emergency Planning, said it was important to remember that the decisions are about real communities and not just numbers. “The Local Plan is how we decide where homes go, what kind of communities we’re building and how we make sure future generations have what they need,” he said.
He added that Dorset’s unique environment and character must be protected, while ensuring growth is fair and sustainable. “With growing pressure on local infrastructure, the decisions made now will shape Dorset for decades to come,” he said.
The council is also involving schools so that young people have the opportunity to contribute their views, recognising they will live with the consequences of decisions made today.
Councillor Jon Andrews, Portfolio Holder for Place Services, said planning for transport is essential when looking at new housing or business developments. “The new Transport Plan is about making everyday journeys easier, cleaner and more reliable, and we want the public to help guide that thinking,” he said.
In addition to the plans, work is beginning on a new Design Code for Dorset, which will set clear expectations for the design of future developments. The aim is to make sure new buildings reflect local character and create communities people are proud to live in.
Here are all the planned new homes by area:
- Lytchett Minster: 5,446
- Crossways: 4,657
- Wimborne / Colehill: 3,417
- Weymouth: 2,355
- Bridport: 2,251
- Sturminster Marshall: 1,861
- Ferndown / West Parley: 1,441
- Verwood: 1,241
- Gillingham: 1,180
- Chickerell: 1,172
- Broadmayne: 1,170
- Blandford: 1,000
- Sherborne: 926
- Wool: 855
- Shaftesbury: 735
- Corfe Mullen: 706
- Marnhull: 697
- Wareham: 619
- Charminster: 560
- Ferndown: 498
- Dorchester: 495
- Lytchett Matravers: 472
- Motcombe: 464
- Beaminster: 460
- Stalbridge: 442
- Swanage: 417
- Bishops’s Caundle: 301
- Milborne St Andrew: 284
- Puddletown: 258
- Lyme Regis: 228
- Charlton Down: 220
- Yetminster: 200
- Hazelbury Bryan: 199
- Bere Regis: 196
- Sturminster Newton: 190
- Thornford: 179
- Okeford Fitzpaine: 177
- Shillingstone: 175
- Charmouth: 152
- West Moors: 148
- Bourton: 125
- Burton Bradstock: 119
- Sixpenny Handley: 107
- Child Okeford: 105
- Fontmell Magna: 105
- Broadwindsor: 89
- Cranborne: 87
- Ferndown / Colehill: 77
- Milton Abbas: 60
- Mosterton: 59
- Winterbourne Abbas: 50
- Maiden Newton: 46
- Winterborne St. Martin: 40
- Portland: 38
Residents can take part online at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/dorset-is-changing, view documents at local libraries and County Hall in Dorchester, or attend drop-in events across the county to find out more and share their views.
