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Poundbury goes to the nation

LOOKALIKE Poundburys could be spawned across the country after it was hailed a model community on the outskirts of a market town.

The Prince of Wales's development near Dorchester has been praised in a Government review that identifies solutions for affordable rural living.

The report was commissioned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discover how up to three million homes could be built in the countryside.

It recommends that expansion schemes of British market towns are similar in style to Poundbury.

The report mentions its community facilities, shops, workshops and green spaces.

Author Matthew Taylor, a Liberal Democrat MP, slams the urban sprawl of residential estates that blight' market towns.

Mr Taylor notes the high degree of planning in Poundbury, its community spirit and the quality of its design and architecture.

Chairman of the Poundbury Residents' Association Fran Leaper think it works because it has its own facilities but also integrates with the Dorchester community.

She added: "It's important that we are joined up with Dorchester because we all want to belong to Dorchester. We have our own shops and facilities here and people from Dorchester use them too. There's a great integration.

"Charlton Down is a few miles up the road and it seems to be in its own little bubble.

"I think if greenfield sites must be built on, then the town can benefit as a whole."

The report also recommends that, to increase rural expansion, councils should have the power to limit the number of second homes in popular holiday areas.

Mrs Leaper said she would be in favour of such restrictions for Poundbury.

She added: "I don't think too many second homes are a good idea because they don't help to build a community."

The Duchy of Cornwall estate, landowner of Poundbury, outlaws holiday lettings in the village.

West Dorset District Council's development control manager John Greenslade said the planning principles employed in the development of Poundbury have proven very successful.

He added: "A high quality, mixed-use community has been created that makes a very efficient use of a greenfield site.

"Many of these principles can be transferred to other developments, but it is important that all new developments, regardless of where they are, should respond to and be in harmony with, local distinctiveness and context."

10:19am Thursday 24th July 2008

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Posted by: LEC, Dorchester on 3:36pm Thu 24 Jul 08
Come on, where are the haters..??

That being said, this made me chuckle;
after it was hailed a model community

Almost as much as this did;
affordable rural living

Affordable by whose standards..??
The report also recommends that, to increase rural expansion, councils should have the power to limit the number of second homes in popular holiday areas.

Why stop at popular holiday areas..?? Not that I mind too much, as the ar'se appears to be falling out of the market...
Posted by: Wessex Lass, Dorchester on 4:28pm Thu 24 Jul 08
Do not worry LEC one of us is here! Finished work later than usual. I can't wait to see more of these towns. Towns where house gardens are the size of postage stamps, pavements you can not push a wheelchair or pushchair, lack of trees and can be seen for miles when approaching like a blot on the landscape. Not an original moan I know, but I am tired.
Posted by: derek, dorset on 4:54pm Thu 24 Jul 08
It's important that we are joined up with Dorchester because we all want to belong to Dorchester.

... easy buy a house in Dorchester .

We have our own shops and facilities here and people from Dorchester use them too. There's a great integration...

Yes sometimes I drive through when the bypass is blocked.

Its all to one's own taste , but for me it is one of the most ugly area's in Dorset .




Posted by: Mike, Portland on 5:16pm Thu 24 Jul 08
If we are stuck with it why shouldn't the rest of the country have a taste of jug ears stupid ideas,after all its turned what was a nice county town into an ugly joke.
Posted by: Dorset Boy, Wilds of Dorset on 6:24pm Thu 24 Jul 08
LEC wrote:
Come on, where are the haters..?? That being said, this made me chuckle;
after it was hailed a model community
Almost as much as this did;
affordable rural living
Affordable by whose standards..??
The report also recommends that, to increase rural expansion, councils should have the power to limit the number of second homes in popular holiday areas.
Why stop at popular holiday areas..?? Not that I mind too much, as the ar'se appears to be falling out of the market...
Sorry LEC I am still laughing at the comments in the article. Now that Jugears has ruined Dorchester, let him ruin the rest of the country.
Posted by: mike edwards, weymouth on 6:55pm Thu 24 Jul 08
Be honest, Dorchester lets down Poundbury not visa versa.
Posted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 7:23pm Thu 24 Jul 08
The report was commissioned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discover how up to three million homes could be built in the countryside
God's Nightgown !!!
How much did this cost in "consultancy fees" ??
Posted by: maximus, Weymouth on 10:14am Fri 25 Jul 08
We have our own shops and facilities here and people from Dorchester use them too
This sounds very much like a 'them and us' statement, a bit snobbish, there are 'Poundbury people' and there are 'Dorchester people' It sounds as if people from Dorchester are aliens from another planet.
Posted by: dunketh, Portland on 11:41am Fri 25 Jul 08
Whoopee! A nation of expensive noddy towns for folk with too much cash.
I wonder if the other versions will feature the interesting architecture too? Not least the building that resembles one of madonnas bras from the early 80s.
The world needs more whacky stuff. I think its a good thing. Kick Brown out and put Charley boy in charge of the country and see what happens.
Posted by: Mike, Portland on 2:35pm Fri 25 Jul 08
dunketh wrote:
Whoopee! A nation of expensive noddy towns for folk with too much cash. I wonder if the other versions will feature the interesting architecture too? Not least the building that resembles one of madonnas bras from the early 80s. The world needs more whacky stuff. I think its a good thing. Kick Brown out and put Charley boy in charge of the country and see what happens.
Out of the frying pan into the fire, God help us.
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