Overview

• Dorset Council has approved the Duchy of Cornwall’s plan to build 100 homes on land near Max Gate, the Grade I-listed former home of Thomas Hardy.
• The Thomas Hardy Society, led by Lord Julian Fellowes, has pledged to challenge the decision, calling the surrounding land 'sacred' to Hardy's legacy.
• The Duchy of Cornwall, managed by Prince William, argues the development will provide high-quality housing, including affordable options, without harming Max Gate’s significance.
• Critics, including local conservation groups, warn the project could overwhelm infrastructure and alter the character of west Dorset.
• This approval follows years of planning, with the land allocated for housing in 2015 and detailed plans submitted by developers CG Fry in 2022.