Eco & Environment, Wimborne | Posted on July 14th, 2026 | return to news

Residents fight local development plans

Two communities in Colehill are fighting plans for the inclusion of adjacent land in Dorset Council’s Draft Local Plan.

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Photos by Dorset View

Due to the high levels of response from local people, the council extended its deadline to Friday 31 October.

Paula Edwards and her husband John, together with neighbour Sue Barber (no relation), who live in Greenhill Lane are horrified by a proposal to build 118 properties on land which houses a wide variety of wildlife opposite their 18^th-century cottages. The land occupies 2.87 acres.

Paula said: “In 2006, the then Dorset County Council identified the land as a Conservation Area, not Green Belt.

“Everything else has to be developed before Conservation Areas. If this proposal is not removed from the Local Plan, we will take it to the Planning Inspectorate. We will fight them.”

Sue said: “It has been so unnerving for us.

“It is a wildlife corridor and gets very wet and muddy in the spring. Also most of the trees have a tree preservation order (TPO). The land also has access issues.”

John has recorded wildlife including fox clubs, badgers, deer and ponies on the land.

Paula added: “A total of 83 houses are proposed, which would result in at least 160 cars.”

The land, which is in private hands, is due to be auctioned on 23 July. It was originally owned by the National Trust, who sold it to a private land owner with overage. This means that the seller is entitled to a payment of 50 per cent if the land is granted planning permission.

John has set up a website — greenhilloaks.com — with the aim of preserving and managing the land bordering Greenhill Road and Greenhill Lane.

In another part of Colehill, Steve and Judy Burrows who live in Olivers Way are concerned about the proposal to build 480 houses on Green Belt land which borders Bytheway field and is visible from the back and to the side of their home.

Judy said: “The land was owned by the National Trust, who sold to ASN Capital around 2001.

“If it is developed, it will affect people living in Wimborne Road West and Cutlers Place and access will be from Olivers Way. It is the only boundary between Wimborne and Colehill.

“I am also concerned about the loss of wildlife, but particularly a man who has kept horses there for 20 years, who has been told to get off the land.”

Overage would also apply to this land.

Residents in other parts of Colehill have expressed dismay about the proposed inclusion of sites in their area. Organisations including Wimborne Civic Society have protested in the strongest terms.

The next draft of the Local Plan is due to be published in August, but at the time of going to press we have no further details.

Residents can continue to respond online — https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/dorset-is-changing — or by email: planningpolicyconsult@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.