Sent to the following  

Dorset Planners / Dorset Chief Executive and Leader of Council / DC Councillors in the Bridport area and DC Councillors on the Planning Committee / all BTC Councillors / Symondsbury PC 

Dear Sirs, 

We are sending a copy of this letter to all named parties. It regards the request from the developers for an amendment to the clause in the legal agreement stating that no houses on the site can be occupied until the roundabout at Miles Cross is opened. The developers are asking that they should be allowed to sell up to 335 houses before the roundabout is opened. We strongly urge the Council to reject the request. We would ask you to consider the following points in considering our request. 

1. Process- We are currently researching national examples what for us is an unfamiliar part of the planning process and would welcome advice about how it operates in Dorset. Since 2012 we have been involved with this development and on many occasions have been told by regretful councillors that they had been informed by the planners that there was nothing they as Councillors could do but agree to a particular proposal. On this occasion we argue that the Councillors should be involved in the decision-making process. We can accept that minor changes to a planning application might be dealt with by the Officers. We do not consider that the acceptance of a figure of 335 houses is a minor matter not least because of the road safety issues involved. The roundabout at Miles Cross is seen by the local community as a key issue and it is essential that our democratic representatives are involved in the decision making. The developers signed up to the commitment knowing the potential complexities and, in our opinion, have dragged their feet. 

2. Impact – We understand that any proposed changes to a legal agreement should be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment for such a major alteration. The developers term the risks created by delay as ‘negligible ‘ . We challenge that judgement. 

3. The developers’ case – The developers are claiming that the start of the roundabout is delayed because National Highways have other essential work on the A35. We have questioned this with National Highways but currently do not believe this to be the case. Any local resident who has been affected by the repeated night closures on the A35 including the current 10-day slot will be dubious of this as a reason.  

All parties have known about the roundabout for many years. The decision by the developers to press on with house building whilst dragging their feet on the roundabout is either reckless or devious. There are many in the community who are very concerned that the roundabout will never be built and who will believe the latter. 

At the recent Foundry Lea Working Group (FLWG) meeting the developers suggested that traffic in the area was at lower levels since COVID. That is at total odds to the lived experience of local people. It is essential that the DC decision is informed by independent statistical data on this key issue.  

4. Implications of refusing the request- The developers stated at the FLWG meeting that this is not a cash flow issue. We are confident that the coffers of Barratt and Bovis will cope with the delay. 

5. ADVEARSE position –For the past 10 years we have argued that Dorset Council should have followed the practice throughout the rest of England and insisted that the roundabout be installed before house building started. For councillors who do not know the site, it is worth saying the sites are adjacent and construction traffic for one will impact on that for the other. 

We therefore ask  

1. That the process for dealing with the request is one that can be transparent to the residents most affected by the delay. 

2. That Councillors are fully involved in any decision to amend the legal agreement. 

3. That an Environmental Impact Assessment be carried out. 

4. That the request for 335 houses to be occupied before the roundabout is opened be refused. We accept that a lower figure which could allow occupation of some affordable housing might be acceptable. It must be accompanied by a binding commitment to the roundabout. 

5. That Bridport Town Council and Symondsbury Parish Council place the item on an agenda and give opportunity in the democratic half hour for public opinion to be aired. 

ADVEARSE will be very willing to meet any of the recipients of the letter to discuss the issues raised. 

Barry Bates – Chair – 15 October 2025