Looking ahead with hope: Affordable Housing in Burton Bradstock

Where are we now? People are asking how the CLT is processing with finding a site for affordable housing in Burton Bradstock.

Over the past year, progress may have seemed quiet, but behind the scenes we’ve been continuing our efforts to bring genuinely affordable housing to Burton Bradstock.

We were pleased to engage Common Practice architects, who worked closely with the community to develop early design ideas for a small affordable housing scheme. These designs showed how modern, attractive, and sustainable homes could look on a potential site in the village – proof that affordable doesn’t have to mean uninspired.

Unfortunately, despite the positive response to these designs, we haven’t yet received any offers of land to bring a project to life.

But we’re not giving up.

One option may be to explore the possibility of developing smaller parcels of land maybe even just a corner of someone’s garden. If you or someone you know has a small piece of land and would like to be part of a project that supports the future of this village, we’d love to talk.

One of the biggest challenges we face is land value. As many will know, Burton Bradstock is one of the most expensive places to live in West Dorset. The commercial potential of land here means that many landowners understandably hold out for high returns – a situation known as “hope value.” Until the new Local Plan is adopted (hopefully next year), we don’t yet have a clearly defined development boundary, which adds to the uncertainty.

But the need for affordable housing here is real and urgent.

Just one acre of land could support around ten homes. Homes for the people who keep our community running: carers, hospitality staff, key workers, young families. Without affordable housing options, we face a future where those essential to village life simply can’t afford to live here.

So, we’re asking the community:

Could you be the person who helps secure the future of Burton Bradstock?

We’re ready. We’re hopeful. And we’re waiting to hear from anyone who shares our vision of a thriving, inclusive village.

— Darren Batten, Chair, and the Board of Burton Bradstock Community Land Trust

22 July 2025

Find the minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting held on 22 July 2025 HERE