Brewery Square Development: Luxury Living or Affordable Housing Mirage?

CONSTRUCTION work has begun on a £23million residential development that will bring 57 new homes to Dorchester. But the question remains: just how affordable will these homes really be?

The affordable housing units will be built within the town’s Brewery Square complex, in partnership between AJC Group and Aster Group. According to David Cracklen, Director of AJC Group, “There is a desperate need for affordable housing across Dorchester, and we are really looking forward to progressing with the remediation and construction work at this historic site."

But some residents are skeptical of just how affordable these homes will really be. With property prices in Dorchester usually very high, many are concerned that the "affordable" label may be more of a marketing ploy than a reality.

Despite these concerns, the development will transform the former Malthouse and Draymasters Brewery on Eldridge Street into 32 three and four bedroom houses, as well as 25 apartments. Construction work is set to take place over the next two years, with a focus on eco-friendly features such as electric vehicle charging points throughout the site and dedicated parking for every dwelling.

"The well-appointed new homes will benefit from easy access to an array of quality amenities," says Cracklen. "The development also runs adjacent to Dorchester South station, which offers regular services to the nearby towns, cities and beyond, encouraging residents to adopt more sustainable forms of transport."

This is the second partnership between AJC and Aster to break ground, with a 27 home development already underway in Okeford Fitzpaine near Blandford Forum. "It is exciting to once again be working alongside AJC Group on what is now our second collaboration in as many years," says Amanda Williams, chief investment officer at Aster.

According to Williams, the Brewery Square development is "a highly sustainable brownfield regeneration project for the county, with buses, trains, shops, schools, and leisure facilities all within walking distance of the central Dorchester site. These sensitively designed affordable houses and apartments will make a real difference for local people, helping to strengthen the community, and adding to the vibrancy of the wider Brewery Square development. We’re dedicated to supporting communities and we’re aiming to deliver around 11,200 new homes by 2030."

With promises of eco-friendly features and a prime location, the Brewery Square development certainly has the potential to be a desirable place to live. But with concerns over affordability, only time will tell if it truly lives up to its promises.