Dorset Council’s senior archaeologist has objected to the first phase of the North Dorchester Garden Community, saying the authority cannot make an informed decision because the developer has not dug the site.

The North Dorchester Consortium, a partnership between Grainger Plc and Wyatt Homes, wants to build up to 3,750 homes.

The first planning application is for the new Stinsford Hill Neighbourhood scheme – up to 500 dwellings on land west of the A35 and east of Slyers Lane.

Steve Wallis, senior archaeologist at Dorset Council, wrote to the planning case officer on 3 July saying the developer has not completed an archaeological evaluation of the site, despite him setting out in September last year that the work was needed before any decision could be made.

An evaluation involves digging exploratory trial trenches to establish what survives below ground. A desk-based assessment has been submitted with the application, but no trenching has taken place.

He goes on to say it is “not acceptable” that the developer wants to carry out the trial trenching only after a decision has been made.

“As section 9.0 of the Environmental Statement makes clear, the evaluation has not been completed,” he wrote.

Mr Wallis noted the application gives no commitment to carry out the trenching before determination.

“I interpret this paragraph to indicate that they would wish the trenching to be undertaken after determination, and I am wary of the meaning of ‘proportionate to an Outline application’.

“In my opinion this is not acceptable. The need for a full archaeological assessment and evaluation before determination was made clear in my response that forms ‘Preapp 2 Appendix 5 Archaeology’ and at other times.”

Mr Wallis also criticised the heritage assessment submitted with the application, which maps the scheduled monuments at Maiden Castle and Poundbury Camp.

He said he could see nothing about other scheduled monuments in the area, including the barrows to the north on Waterston Ridge, the Roman road to the east in Thorncombe Wood, and the Roman defences in Dorchester itself. Other features scheduled alongside Poundbury Camp were also not mentioned.

There was no consideration at all of the impact on the setting of any scheduled monument in the vicinity, he added.

Mr Wallis said that before an informed decision could be made, the applicant needed to provide the results of a completed archaeological evaluation and an assessment of the impact of the development on scheduled monuments nearby.

The controversial Norchester scheme has divided opinion in the county town, with statements of support being made alongside objections.

Dorchester resident Simon Jackson told The West Dorset Magazine: “Many young people from Dorchester are forced to either commute long distances because they cannot afford to live closer to their jobs and family roots or to simply live and work somewhere else altogether.

“North Dorset Garden Community promises up to 35% of homes as affordable rental properties (including some social housing). This would be a big help for young people.”

He added: “There is a very real national housing shortage, not least in Dorset.

“For instance, there are more than 6000 people across Dorset on the housing register. In other words, 6000 people who are either homeless, living in severely overcrowded housing, or facing other serious accommodation problems.

“Secondly, there seems to be great alarm about the risk of serious flooding. However, the detailed planning application and the North Dorchester Garden Community (NDGC) website show that the proposed houses will be situated beyond the flood plain north of the river.

“The developers set out detailed plans for extensive investment in managing drainage. Given the overall project will not be completed until 2048, is it plausible that the companies behind NDGC (including Grainger plc, a business with annual profits of over £200 million) are willing to contractually commit to building 3600 homes in gradual phases, several hundred every year, if these properties quickly prove to be unsaleable due to flooding?

“Is Dorset Council likely to approve NDGC if it creates a real risk of flooding in the existing town?”

You can view the outline planning application for the Stinsford Hill Neighbourhood and make comments on the Council’s planning portal using reference P/OUT/2026/03215.