Home » Land at Simsay Fields, Cerne Abbas in Dorset

What is this consultation about?

The purpose of this consultation is to present our ideas for the site, including a possible layout, some sketches of the site and draft house types. We seek the views of community representatives and local residents on our draft proposals for the provision of new homes at land at Simsay Fields, Cerne Abbas.

Subsequent pages explain the background and reasons for the application and the technical work we have done. Members of the team are available to answer any questions.

This consultation provides an opportunity for you to comment on the design of the emerging proposals. We will aim to address the comments raised through our planning application.

Founded over 80 years ago C G Fry is a familyowned regional housebuilder based in West Dorset, operating across the southwest from Cornwall to Hampshire and currently building
around 300 houses a year.

The Company is in the ownership and control of the Managing Director, Philip Fry, and employs around 200 people across many disciplines from site operatives to professional design, surveying, planning and project management staff.

We have delivered high quality schemes in and around Dorset, a local example being St Mary’s view in Beaminster. We are also proud to be one of three developers delivering Poundbury, working in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall.

C G Fry & Son seek to deliver outstanding homes in developments that will leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy. Craftsmanship and quality have always been the hallmarks of our work, earning the Company an enviable reputation.

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Further details of our history and examples of our developments are included on our website www.cgfry.co.uk.

There is an acute need for new housing both nationally and locally in part as a result of lack of supply over the past 50 years.

Across the UK, the average age of a first-time buyer is now 33 (in 2007 it was 27) and 18% of 25-34 year olds are living with their parents.

The Government has made clear that it wants to significantly increase housing delivery to help tackle the housing crisis. This includes increasing housing delivery rates nationally to 300,000 homes a year, a figure not reached since the 1960s and 70s when
a significant proportion of new homes were still being built by local authorities as Council houses.

Based on latest figures published by Government through its National Planning Policy Framework the housing need in Dorset equates to a requirement for 3,246 new homes to be built every year. 1,213 new homes were built in the year ending 31st March 2024.

In addition to the need for new homes generally there is also a significant need for affordable housing (often referred to as social housing) for those whose needs are not met by the market.

As set out on Dorset Council’s website, there are currently almost 7,000 households on the housing register, waiting for housing.

C G Fry is committed to playing its part in addressing the growing national housing shortage by delivering new high-quality homes in
sustainable locations such as the land at Simsay Fields, Cerne Abbas.

We have carefully reviewed relevant national and local planning policy, seeking to respond to both strategic and local priorities.

Adopted West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan

The West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan was adopted in 2015. The Plan includes a requirement to deliver 15,500 dwellings in the period 2011-2031, clarifying that development will distributed according to the settlement hierarchy. In rural areas, development is directed to settlements with a defined development boundary.

A new Local Plan for Dorset

Dorset Council is currently preparing a new Local Plan that will allocate further sites throughout Dorset to meet the latest housing need figures. Dorset Council also propose a new approach for development with a ‘flexible settlement’ policy. This would allow small-scale growth to occur incrementally around the edge of settlements. The emerging Local Plan is at a very early stage and is unlikely to be
adopted until the end of 2027.

Cerne Valley Neighbourhood Plan

The Cerne Valley Neighbourhood Plan vision;

“Recognising the Cerne Valley is a special place to live in and visit, we aim to retain this status, by protecting our environment
and communities, whilst seeking to encourage change which will enhance the appeal of the area, as well as its sustainability”.

The principle and only point of vehicular access is proposed by extending the northern extent of Simsay Fields at the location of the existing field gate along the southern boundary of the site.

A pedestrian pavement will tie into the existing pedestrian network, providing off-site enhancements where necessary to promote active
travel.

An access to the neighbouring allocated school site will be provided as part of the proposal.

The below plan identifies nearby local facilities and rights of way within 800m of the site.

You may have seen a number of surveys being carried out on the field over the past year. We have been carrying out ground investigation works, including over winter ground water monitoring to inform on our final drainage strategy.

The site itself lies within flood zone 1. A small area in the south eastern corner has a 1 in 100yr likelihood of surface water flooding. It is however noted that parts of Cerne Abbas are in higher risk flood zones and have suffered flood events in the past.

We will be working closely with Dorset Council’s Lead Local Flood Authority to ensure that our drainage scheme does not exacerbate flood risk and instead provides benefit to existing conditions.

Surface Water Drainage

The surface water run off from the scheme will be collected in a lined drainage basin prior to being discharged off site. This will be an attractive feature within the open space, providing biodiversity enhancements.

All private parking bays will be constructed as permeable paving and the proposal provides opportunities to include rain gardens / swales.

This sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) based drainage scheme will mitigate the impacts of climate change and seek to provide betterment over existing site conditions.

Ecology

A series of ecological surveys have been carried out to inform the proposals, including reptile, dormouse and bat activity surveys. The northern bank was considered to be suitable for common reptile species. As such, this bank will be retained within the proposed development as suitable habitat. The proposal will provide biodiversity enhancements including bat and bird boxes and hedgehog highways.

Open Space

The development will be shaped around high-quality open space that invites people to live, play, and connect with both nature and the community.

The open space will feature a multifunctional SUDS basin, landscape buffers, the central green and an area of open space in the north eastern corner of the site. These features will support local flora and fauna, strengthen ecological connections and will increase residents daily connection with nature.

The areas of open space will be subject to a management and maintenance plan which will be implemented by a management company set up to maintain communal areas within the development.

Landscaping and trees

We have carried out a full survey of the health and condition of all trees and hedgerows on and surrounding the site and we have designed our scheme to avoid impacts on any features worthy of retention. Existing trees, where retained, will be suitably protected during construction by secure fencing.

The proposal incorporates trees into the street scene. These trees will be carefully selected species to ensure longevity and contribution to the street scene. Other strategic planting includes bolstering planting along the sites eastern and southern boundaries.

Dorset National Landscape

The site sits within the Dorset National Landscape, within the Cerne and Sydling Valley Landscape Character Area.

The Dorset National Landscape Management Plan is a statutory document that is approved by the Secretary of State and is a material consideration in planning. The Management Plan sets out that ‘new development and planning gain may provide opportunities to conserve, enhance, restore and create valued landscape features’.

The Historic Environment

Giant Hill lies to the north of the site and Black Hill Down lies to the south east. The northern site boundary abuts the Cerne Abbey Remains Scheduled Monument, and the Cerne Abbas Conservation Area. Cerne Abbas includes a considerable number of
listed buildings, St Mary’s Church being a notable Grade I listed building, to the west of the Site.

Design Response

C G Fry & Son are keenly aware of the heritage and landscape sensitivities of the site, working closely with consultants to ensure that the proposal creates a place that will stand the test of time, that adds a new layer of history to the site, with the expectation it will be valued for its heritage in the future as heritage assets are today.

The layout has been carefully designed to respond to the site’s visual relationship with St Mary’s Church, retaining views from the northern open space towards the church tower, responding to the landmark status of the church. The northeastern
open space also forms a landscaped buffer to the abbey remains and Conservation Area to the north of the site.

The Cerne Valley Neighbourhood Plan sets out a number of development principles to guide development. C G Fry & Son share the aspiration of the Neighbourhood Plan to deliver high quality and sustainable housing, in keeping with the local historic character and distinctiveness of the area.

It is important to note that full details of house types are still being considered and are currently a work in progress.

Our design will retain a village feel, responding to the character of Cerne Abbas and use design references from the village. The final design is likely to reference local building types, street patterns and architectural details. We believe that places which look familiar to people in their surroundings, will also feel welcoming, safe, and permanent.