Dorset Council has apologised after chopping and changing the deadlines for residents to have their say on the ‘Norchester’ development.

The North Dorchester Consortium, a partnership between Grainger Plc and Wyatt Homes, wants to build up to 3,750 homes to create the North Dorchester Garden Community (NDGC).

Consultation for the first phase – known as Stinsford Hill Neighbourhood, where up to 500 dwellings could spring up on land west of the A35 and east of Slyers Lane – was initially due to close on Friday, August 7.

However, last month, eagle-eyed residents spotted the council had extended the deadline for objections and comments to be submitted, to Tuesday, September 1.

Then this week, it was brought forward again, to August 28.

Developer's CGI of a proposed green corridor at North Dorchester Garden Community ('Norchester'), showing new homes, a footpath, and residents walking and cycling, with a church spire visible in the distance. — A green corridor proposed as part of the North Dorchester Garden Community plans

STAND is the campaign to save the area North of Dorchester.

Acting chair Alastair Nisbet said: “It is confusing for the planning authority to extend the deadline and then bring it forward a few days.

“In view of this confusion they should now agree to accept comments from the public up to the time when the application finally goes to committee.”

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “During the consultation, several parish councils asked for more time to respond because of the scale of the application and the amount of information provided. We agreed to extend the consultation period to 1 September.

“The consultation end date was incorrectly shown as 28 August on the online system. This has now been corrected and we apologise for any confusion caused.

“We can confirm the consultation remains open until 1 September, which is longer than the statutory consultation period. We welcome comments during this time to help inform the planning decision.

“The updated consultation date is published on the planning website so that residents and stakeholders have access to the correct information. The applicant has also been informed.”

Residents can view the full planning application on the Council’s planning portal using reference P/OUT/2026/03215.

Comments and objections can be lodged here until September 1.