IN February 2019, North Dorset District Council – a month before going out of existence – agreed through its planning committee to give outline approval for the destruction and redevelopment of a key part of Blandford’s Conservation area, including the demolition of the Edwardian villa Nordon which had become the council’s own headquarters after being built for the founder of the local Badger brewery.
Plans for the scheme were kept secret by councillors for over 12 months, with no advance public consultation until the application was submitted and validated in August 2018.
The outline approval, once issued by the new Dorset Council, will be followed by a detailed planning application for the construction of 40 ‘affordable’ homes – only eight of which will be rentable – and removal of over half the woodland on the site. Twenty six of the 46 trees, all with Conservation Area Protection and including several specimens, will be felled.
This petition is NOT against the provision of truly affordable homes, which could be and are being provided elsewhere, but IS against the loss of a notable property of considerable historic interest together with its grounds – a ‘green lung’ and haven for wildlife in the midst of other residential development - which were specifically included in the town’s extended Conservation Area nearly 30 years ago.