THERE were tears of joy as plans to build a ‘co-housing’ community in Bridport were approved. 

The scheme by Bridport Cohousing Community Land Trust (CLT) looks to provide affordable housing to local people. 

It will see 34 houses and flats built next to Bridport Community Hospital and also includes a common house and a car park. 

It will be made up of a range of property sizes from one bedroom apartments to four bedroom family homes.

Members of the cohousing group could be seen crying as West Dorset District Council’s Development Control Committee approved the scheme. 

Residents and members of the group, as well as councillors spoke to support the scheme, with members speaking of the years of work that has been put in to reach this stage. 

West Dorset District Councillor and Bridport Town Councillor, Cllr David Rickard, was just one of the people who spoke to support the scheme. 

He said: “This is exactly the sort of development we should be encouraging.

“It’s developing housing that has a built in community. I think we should be looking for a lot more of these sort of sites in our local plan.”

West Dorset District Councillor for Bridport North, Cllr Ros

Kayes also supported the plans.

She said: “Bridport desperately needs this development, please approve it.”

The houses were approved despite it causing some damage to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the council saying the provision of a sustainable co-housing scheme in a sustainable location on the edge of Bridport considered to outweigh the harm. 

Vice-chairman of the development planning committee, Nigel Bundy, spoke of his support for the plans.

He said: “I think it’s one of the easiest decisions that’s come before us.”

In a statement following the decision, the cohousing group said that it hopes it can pave the way for more similar schemes with houses bought in a shared ownership at 80 percent of open market value. 

The group wanted to thank the people of Bridport for their support in making the plans possible. 

Facilities such as the common house and a community allotment will not just be open to cohousing residents but also the wider community. 

The group is still recruiting new members and can be contacted at www.bridportcohousing.org or by email on info@bridportcohousing.org.uk or on 07907 933 587.