With the strength of feeling displayed at last week’s planning meeting, and over 200 objections already lodged online, the reasons continue to mount as to why Parnham’s proposed 82-house gated development is the wrong plan in the wrong place.
Reasons for objections include:
– Parnham’s attempt to avoid the £2.74m Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
The application assumes exemption from a £2.74m CIL payment, denying Beaminster and Netherbury vital funding for schools, healthcare, roads and drainage. Parnham claims paying the levy would make roof repairs unaffordable, raising serious concerns about a scheme that cannot meet standard community obligations.
– No affordable, social or keyworker housing
According to figures in the application, homes would range from £600,000 to £2.5 million, far above Dorset’s average house price (£396,000). The gated development provides no affordable, social or keyworker housing for local people or starter homes for young families.
– High risk of sewage pollution to the River Brit
Sewage infrastructure for over 80 homes is proposed close to a flood-prone river, with tanks partially submerged in groundwater. Any failure could cause catastrophic pollution from Beaminster to West Bay.
– Unsustainable, car-dependent location
Outside Beaminster’s settlement boundary, the site lacks safe pedestrian access, making it heavily car dependent. Over 500 additional daily vehicle trips are predicted, worsening congestion, pollution and parking pressures.
– Damage to protected landscapes and priority habitats
The scheme would harm Grade II* listed gardens and the Dorset National Landscape, eroding biodiversity. Millground Meadow and the River Brit support protected species, including otters, placing the proposal in direct conflict with planning policy.
– This is not restoration – significant parts of Parnham House would remain unrestored, while its historic setting is sacrificed for an isolated, gated, unaffordable housing estate.
For many in Beaminster, that trade-off is neither justified nor acceptable. To see the plans and comment head to to https://planning.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/
Dorset Council Portal – application: P/FUL/2025/06865.
Find out more about how to object to the destruction of Millground meadow and the deer park at Parnham.
This article was originally posted on our Facebook page #dnhi this week.