Community Housing, Dorchester

On behalf of the Dorchester Area Community Land Trust we have developed proposals for a new affordable housing scheme on land in Dorchester town centre. The site, currently occupied by two disused tennis courts, is situated in the corner of the old Roman town, Durnovaria. The ramparts to the Roman city wall, which are a Scheduled Monument, bound the site to the south and west and are lined with mature trees which create a beautiful backdrop to the site and give it a special character.

The brief has been developed to help address the shortage of affordable housing for young people who wish to live and work in Dorchester. The new building will provide 15 new flats – each approximately 40sqm in area. The proposal is carefully sited to avoid Roman archaeology, existing trees and the ecologically valuable planting on its periphery.

The facade is composed of a brick base, with a light-coloured, textured render facade with a green tiled roof. The scale and facade palette reference the Georgian villas which line the West Walks.