Golf course's green belt status faces review amid interest from housing developers

Last month the Daily Echo reported that developer Wyatt Homes had "secured", with the management of Dudsbury Golf Course in Hampreston, the opportunity to build on the site should its protected status be lifted.

The area is one of many across East Dorset earmarked for housing as part of the Christchurch and East Dorset councils' Local Plan Review, which will consider making changes to the green belt as part of its remit.

According to the review documentation, it will "undertake a green belt study which will consider how well each area of green belt meets its statutory purposes".

It says: "This will be an important basis should any review of green belt boundaries be considered."

The review will also examine the green belt "around settlements" to "address long standing boundary anomalies".

Longham and Hampreston town councillor Paul Graham said he was "shocked" to see several green belt sites among those nominated for development in the review.

"This area contains protected ancient woodland, historic and archaeological buildings and a mixture of grade 2 and 2* listed buildings," he said.

"Previous policies have stated no exception will be made to allow housing on green belt."

He said development on these sites would put great pressure on local infrastructure.

"Can you imagine if these go ahead what impact thousands more houses will have on the infrastructure," he said.

"Thousands more houses mean thousands more people and thousands more vehicles.

"The largest of these sites is Dudsbury Golf Course, the golf course draws golfers from far and wide, can you imagine what an impact this will have if they cave in to developer pressure."

Last month, the golf club manager Paul Palmer said the housing project could take "up to 20 years" to come to fruition.

"If and when the planning is approved, and if the green belt is lifted, all of our golf members will be given at least 18 months' notice," he told the Echo.