Campaigning group against the development of more than 4,000 homes north of the town has highlighted the environmental impacts it could have.

STAND, the group opposed to the homes north of Dorchester, has expressed disappointment that the controversial site has been included in the revised Dorset Council Local Plan.

It says that "despite a groundswell of opposition from all quarters, Dorset Council is pressing on with its plan to concrete over a vast area of farmland in its desire to satisfy central government housing targets".

Opponents to the development include Dorchester Town Council, The Thomas Hardy Society, the Civic Society, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and West Dorset MP Chris Loder.

A spokesman for STAND said: "The risk of flooding from these large-scale developments is now well evidenced.

"The consequences of covering over 500 acres of farmland in concrete were certainly not considered when this development was conceived. We are now in a very different situation with extreme weather patterns becoming the norm.

"It does not take much imagination to envisage the future repercussions of building on land that directly overlooks Dorchester. The runoff into the Frome river plain and water meadows could be devastating."

The spokesman added: "Dorset Council has already declared a climate emergency; it is our view that this development is inconsistent with their legally binding climate change commitment and adds further weight to a whole range of environmental issues that underpin our opposition."

The group says that in a recent podcast, Councillor David Walsh, the cabinet member for planning, highlighted the need in the plan for "protecting our environment and acting on climate change".

The STAND spokesman said: "We have already demonstrated the permanent damage to the wildlife and habitats that will occur, but equally important are the factors of CO2 emissions, light and noise pollution.

"The drain on resources will be immense, estimates vary but a development of this size will require thousands upon thousands of tonnes of concrete, just for the foundations.

"The devastating effect on all aspects of our environment cannot be overstated. Dorset needs to be taking a lead on this local and global issue."

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for planning, said: "We are required by central government to plan for the housing target calculated using their standard approach. If we don't plan to meet these targets, we are required to demonstrate exceptional circumstances.

"We appreciate that some groups by their very nature will question this need to build housing, but we must ensure that Dorset residents have places to live and work – especially young people – and our local economy is able to support those who already live here.

"This is a true consultation for the draft local plan and, because of the pandemic, we are doing more than we ever have before to publicise and support the consultation to ensure as many people as possible can have their say."

The spokesman concluded: "We must do everything within our power to prevent large areas of Dorset being swallowed up by unnecessary developments.

"We are urging people to register their objections to the Dorchester North development - Ref DOR 13 - either online or by email - [email protected]. Alternatively, write to Spatial Planning Dept, Dorset Council, South Walks House, Dorchester, DT1 1UZ.

"In the words of Cllr Walsh in his podcast, 'this is not a done deal'."

The campaigning group will be publishing its own 10-point plan as an alternative to the North of Dorchester development within the next few weeks.

To find out more about STAND, visit stand-dorchester.net

Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter below!

You can submit your own news straight to Dorchester Nub News by using the 'Nub It' button on our home page. This can also be done for events on our What's On page and businesses, groups and organisations on our Local Listings page , also by using the 'Nub It' button.

Please like and follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us @DorchesterNubNews on Facebook and @DorchesterNub Twitter.