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DEVELOPMENT of a scheme for shops and homes in Dorchester's town centre has moved a step closer with feedback from the latest stage of consultations helping with the final designs.

Views of individuals and community organisations emerged through the third stage of consultation on the Charles Street site held earlier this year.

Alison Bancroft, consultation co-ordinator, said: "The consultation identified a number of areas that people felt needed to be reconsidered and the team are working with the comments received to see if suggested changes can be accommodated.

"Design of the elevations is also continuing although these will obviously be affected to some extent by any layout revisions and final scheme content decisions.

"The elevations will be made available for comment as soon as possible and plans for this final consultation stage are currently in progress."

She said Simons Developments, the developer of the proposal on behalf of landowner West Dorset District Council, was delighted with the response to stage three of consultation. It focused on four strands - connectivity, the streetscape and public realm, transport and accessibility.

The 12 meetings enabled wide-ranging discussions to take place on issues associated with the scheme layout.

Simons has brought together the points raised during the consultation into a report now available on its website www.charlesstreetproject.com The report includes concern raised about the future of Dorchester Community Church, formerly the Acland Road Evangelical Church. The church stands on the only part of the site not owned by the district council and it was given a new corner site in an earlier stage of the plan.

But Simons claimed the council's demand for best value from the development ruled out a church within the new scheme at a later stage. During the stage three consultation Simons development director Mark Lewis promised to continue meeting church trustees to resolve the situation.

Issues raised during the consultation also included concerns about car parking provision, location of a service yard entrance, the lack of community and youth amenities and not being able to see more detailed designs of the proposed elevations and materials.

During the public meeting held in the Dorford Centre towards the end of the consultation Mr Lewis said more time would be needed before drawings would be ready for a planning application.

The public would be able to view the plans before the application is lodged but the delay means the scheme would not be finished before the 2012 Olympics as originally planned.

11:09am Saturday 19th July 2008

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