A consultation is being held to find out what local residents think of a proposed scheme to build affordable homes for keyworkers with a strong connection to Swanage in Dorset.
Swanage Community Housing – a not for profit community land trust formed to provide affordable living accommodation – is unveiling its latest plans at a public drop in session between 3 pm and 7 pm on Wednesday 3rd September 2025 in The Studio at The Mowlem on Shore Road.
The site is located on the corner of Washpond Lane and Ulwell Road, within the settlement boundary with houses opposite and to each side
Eight homes for social rent
The proposal is to build eight homes on land located on the corner of Washpond Lane and Ulwell Road, available to keyworkers with strong Swanage ties on a social rent basis, which is 60 percent of the average local market rent.
The eight properties will be one and two bedroom homes to meet the most urgent need according to Dorset Council’s housing register.
As of Tuesday 26th August 2025, there were 182 households with a local connection to Swanage on the Dorset Council housing register, and 207 households who listed Swanage as a preferred area to live.
Of those with a local connection to Swanage and assessed as having an urgent housing need, two households wanted a 1-bed property, two wanted a 2-bed property and three wanted 3 bed properties.
It’s proposed that the homes will sit back from Ulwell Road with a single entrance onto the road, retaining much of the current hedgerow
Households on Dorset Council housing register with a local connection to Swanage
As of Tuesday 26th August 2025
- Band A – Urgent housing need: 7
- Band B – High housing need: 12
- Band C – Medium housing need: 37
- Band D – Low housing need: 116
- Number applied but waiting for application to be verified: 10
- Total: 182
The site backs onto St Mary’s primary school, Swanage Cricket Club’s second pitch, and the Ulwell Stream but all the homes will be built away from the area which can flood
Planning application
Plans have now been drawn up by MH Architects, following feedback from local residents after an initial public consultation in January 2024 and pre-planning advice from Dorset Council.
Swanage Community Housing would like to hear the views of local residents about the scheme prior to submitting a planning application.
The Ulwell Road plot of land is within walking distance of the town centre, close to Days Park, and on a bus route
“Actively looking for more sites in Swanage”
Chair of Swanage Community Housing Claire Barnes said:
“We’d like people to come along to the drop in event, look at the plans, and speak to the architects and our chosen housing association provider Hastoe.
“These will be homes for keyworkers with a strong connection to Swanage, to meet an urgent need in Swanage.
“While this scheme only provides eight homes, we see this as the start of something much bigger.
“We’re actively looking for more sites in Swanage to provide genuinely affordable housing and we’d welcome people to come along to our event and share their ideas.”
Anyone who wishes to be considered for housing by Swanage Community Housing must be on the Dorset Council housing register, have evidence of a strong connection to Swanage, and be a key worker.
Further information
- Those wishing to support Swanage Community Housing and receive newsletters may become a member for £5 and can apply via its website
