Planned development at Bridport: Your town, your say

Magna Housing Association has been selected to lead a 100% affordable housing development project in Bridport.

What do you think?

Magna Housing Association would like to thank everybody who came to our Community & Consultation event that was held next to the Sea Scout Hall on St Swithins Road on 12th June 2008. It was a successful event with lots of interest. People gave us some very helpful feedback and we are looking into addressing the issues and comments raised. One concern expressed by residents was that of potential traffic problems and we were able to reassure people that we will be liaising closely Dorset County Council Highways Department to ensure that a suitable proposal is submitted.

This was the second public consultation event, after the success of the first consultation held in February at three locations around Bripdort. Your views from these events were taken into account and incorporated into the latest proposed plans. Click here to see the plans.

We will continue to consult residents to ensure that the proposed development is correct for the area and we will publish progress on this page. A final consultation event will take place, potentially in August, prior to any formal planning application being made.

Magna are working closely with West Dorset District Council, Bridport Town Council, Allington Parish Council and Bridport Local Area Partnership in this exciting project and welcome any comments and suggestions you can offer.

Your Views...

The community was invited to comment on our latest proposals on the 12th June. Just under 30 questionnaires were returned and your comments will be taken on board. The results show:

• 75% of respondents either agree or strongly agree with the proposed mix of affordable rented and Newbuild HomeBuy (shared ownership) properties
• Only a small proportion (13%) disagreed with the proposed mix of affordable rented properties
• Most people (73%) agreed with the proposal for 18 Newbuild HomeBuy (also known as shared ownership or part rent, part buy) properties, comprising 12x2 bedroom houses and 6x3 bedroom houses
• While over half of you (52%) agreed with the proposed parking plan, there were several comments and suggestions from those who disagreed.
• 60% agreed with the overall proposed scheme layout, 18% neither agreed/ disagreed
• Approximately 3/4 of you want to see the new homes built at the same time (rather than in two phases)

Other comments you gave us for consideration include:

• Ensuring the homes are for local people, and at an affordable price
• Additional traffic on St Swithins Road
• Loss of existing parking area behind 18-34 Rivervale
• Mixed views were received on the number of parking spaces proposed for the new houses
• Inclusion of green spaces
• Ensuring measures are taken to alleviate existing flooding problems

We are in the process of gaining further information on the site, including ground surveys which will tell us about how the ground is made up and also alert us to any contamination issues. We will also be working closely with the Environment Agency to ensure that potential flooding issues are addressed.

We are hoping to submit the planning application this summer, but we will be carrying out a final public consultation event (this should be sometime in August) before the planning application is made.

Want to know more?

To view West Dorset District Council's planning concept statement relating to the Flaxhayes development, please click here.

For more information on the consultation sessions contact Nigel Spencer, development programme manager, on 01305 214067 or email Nigel.

For more information on the organisations we are working with, please click on the images below: