Bere Regis: Plans for 67 new homes in village

Poole-based housebuilder Wyatt Homes has its sight set on fields off North Street and Back Lane in Bere Regis for the construction of 67 homes. 

Bere Regis has around 800 households, according to the census, and the developer has said the development would be a “natural expansion” of the village. 

They said it would “[meet] the agreed objectives of the Bere Regis Neighbourhood Plan to establish an integrated parish community”. 

Land off North Street, Bere Regis, where the homes are planned for (Image: Daily Echo)

Making up the two sites at Barrow Hill, Wyatt Homes has proposed 15 houses on the land at North Street and 52 at Back Lane, overlooking the A35. 

These would comprise six one- and two-bedroom apartments, 19 two-bed homes, 19 three-bed homes and eight four-bedroom family houses off Back Lane and a two-bed apartment, 12 three-bed homes and two four-bed homes off North Street. 

A planning statement said: “Cottage groupings are arranged to address the street and reinforce a village character and to overlook the community green space and rural edge of Back Lane.  

“A farmhouse character is proposed to the appearance of the apartment building that defines the edge of community green and play space.” 

To adhere to the neighbourhood plan, 39 per cent of the homes will be affordable and the remaining one per cent would be accommodated through a financial contribution from Wyatt Homes. 

Bere Regis (Image: Daily Echo)

As well as this, the developer has proposed a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) along the northern edge of Bere Regis. 

SANGs are areas that have green space in a bid to encourage more biodiversity and nature to the area. 

But Bere Regis and Shitterton residents have already expressed concern at the extra homes and speculated what sort of impact it would have on the village. 

Married couple Julien and Bernadette said: “I realise there is need for housing. I have three sons, in their 20s living at home, who work locally but cannot afford to buy or rent locally.  

“However, such a large development cannot be built at expense of the existing village community and environment when the utility infrastructure is not available to support it.” 

Jonathan agreed: “Very simply there is not the infrastructure in the village to support this many new homes.  

“There is not enough shops. Only one school and a small doctors surgery and this amount of new homes would put a severe strain on this service.” 

And Carly added: “West Street already suffers with over crowding of parked cars and increased volume of traffic from bypass. Increased housing and associated cars will lead to further congestion.”