Blandford
Dorset
We were delighted to hear the news this week that Dorset Council has resolved to grant planning consent for a significant urban extension at land to the north-east of Blandford Forum, promoted by one of our long-standing clients, Wyatt Homes.
AWP were first engaged in the large and complex project back in 2018, and during the last 5 years we have provided engineering input to the development of the masterplan, including access and drainage strategies, which includes up to 490 dwellings, a new local centre and land for a new three-form entry primary school. We also completed the Transport Assessment and Flood Risk Assessment that accompanied the application, as well as the preliminary highway design/levels drawings for the first phase of development for which detailed planning consent has been granted.
The large 37 hectare site is split into two parcels by the A354 Salisbury Road, with the A350/A354 Blandford by-pass defining the western boundary. The focus of the access strategy for sustainable modes of travel was therefore focussed on overcoming the potential severance issues generated by the heavy and fast moving traffic using the road running between the site and the existing neighbourhoods and town centre. This included measures to slow traffic in combination with the new points of access for vehicles, and utilising existing bridges to provide grade separated crossing points. The package of off-site mitigation works also included a series of new pedestrian and cycle paths, enhanced crossing points, and improved facilities at local bus stops.
Part of the site also lies within an AONB, and we worked closely with NEW Masterplanning and HDA Environmental to develop a highways/movement framework and SuDS solutions within the site that achieved both the necessary technical engineering requirements whilst being well-integrated with, and sympathetic to, the landscaping and urban design strategies.
The project was led by Alex (highways) & Chris (drainage) from day one, but could not have been delivered without the input from many members of the AWP team, both past and present. We look forward to seeing the scheme come forward for implementation very soon.
Image credit: NEW Masterplanning