Winterbourne Abbas
Planning Consent Secured for 32 New Homes
DMW Architects have secured planning permission for a 32-home residential development in the village of Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset - an intricate scheme set within a 1.5-hectare site that lies largely inside the Winterbourne Abbas Conservation Area and is shaped by a network of environmental, heritage, and topographical constraints.
Project Director: Derek Williams
Project Lead: Noah Harper
Client: Montpellier Land and Developments
Planning Consultant: CL Planning
The site’s sensitivity demanded a design approach rooted in respect for place and ecological stewardship. Key measures include:
- Retention and adaptive reuse of a historic barn, safeguarding a long-eared bat roost.
- Preservation of a bat maternity corridor and integration of protected trees into the masterplan.
- Sensitive handling of the site’s significant slope, ensuring new homes are stepped into the landscape.
- Conservation and reinterpretation of the courtyard vernacular, maintaining the visual and spatial character of the village.
The development goes beyond housing delivery, embedding community and environmental benefits into the design. These include public open space, biodiversity enhancements, a flood mitigation bund and water storage area to improve site resilience, a dedicated school drop-off/pick-up zone, improved footpath connections, and a new children’s play area.
A central challenge in the planning process was addressing flood risk at the site entrance—although none of the proposed dwellings lie within the risk zone. While Dorset Council planning officers recommended refusal on this basis, local councillors voted in favour, recognising that the social value of the scheme outweighed residual concerns. With over 7,000 people on the local housing waiting list, the project will provide homes for approximately 150 residents. Its arrival could bring up to 80 children into the catchment area, directly supporting the future of the village school located opposite the site.
Cllr Belinda Bawden (Green, Charmouth & Lyme Regis) encapsulated this sentiment during the planning debate:
“The development could sustain the village, which might otherwise struggle, and be of benefit to the school bang opposite the site.”
Delivered in collaboration with CL Planning (Giles Moir) and heritage specialist James Webb, the scheme represents a sensitive, community-focused response, that acknowledges the site’s layered history while securing a viable future for Winterbourne Abbas.