Latest Updates

The Local Plan and Local Heritage Report

Just in case you have missed appendix AD/1 of North Warwickshire’s Local Plan documents it is reproduced here. This Appendix covers a survey carried out by professionals at LUC looking at what heritage assets we have in our area and how they could be affected by the new build.
Section 5 of the report deals with Dordon and Polesworth and is well worth a look.
One of the Grade II listed features that will be affected by the new build is the obelisk and its surroundings.
The obelisk was erected by Sir George Chetwynd in the 19th Century after work on the railway had uncovered graves associated with the chapel of St Leonard at Hoo. The chapel itself was commissioned by Roger de Grendon in the 1100’s and was later given to Polesworth Abbey. The chapel had two priests living there so presumably there would be archaeological evidence of dwellings as well as the chapel and graveyard. The chapel was demolished in 1538 in the time of Henry VIII. At that time, the Priests were being paid £10 a year! For more information about the Hoo Obelisk, Margaret Henley has written a great article on “Visit Polesworth”. Although now in Polesworth Parish we know that in the 18th Century this area was classed as Dordon. Although the Obelisk is not on the original site of the chapel the whole area is sensitive as it is also very likely the site of an Iron Age Hillfort.

The Hoo Obelisk

Inscription on the Monument

​Another historically sensitive area is the surroundings of Dordon Hall. The survey reports that not only will part of the original gardens be affected by the new build but also the surroundings to the east where some of the farm buildings date back to the 17th Century.

1850 tithe map showing Dordon Hall (125a) with the farm buildings to the North-East.

Farm buildings including the Cart Shed of 1854 with small dog kennel below the steps.

​The survey records the site of cottages surrounding Hollies Wood which can be seen on the 1850’s Tithe Map.

1850’s tithe map showing a cottage at nos. 80, 105 and 110.

There is a lot of valuable information in the report, so it is well worth a look!

​The survey results are ready!

Visit the dedicated Dordon Neighbourhood Plan website, to see the latest:

• Consultation documents - especially the summary of results from the Online Survey!
• Dordon Housing Needs Assessment
• Additional documents from 2016 workshops

What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

• A Neighbourhood plan gives our community a say in the development and growth of our local area.
• It allows us to set out what is important for us in our Parish.
• It gives us a way to influence new developments, while protecting and enhancing what is already here.
• For more detailed information about Neighbourhood Planning, click here to go to the gov.uk Neighbourhood Planning website.

Why now?

• Dordon Parish Council objected strongly to the large-scale development proposed for this area.
• However we realised that if it did go ahead, we wanted to have as much say as possible.
• Over the last two years, our Neighbourhood Plan team have been working with experts to produce a plan which would meet Dordon's needs.
• Dordon is a large parish, including: the hamlet of Freasley, a large industrial development south of the A5, and also the proposed site for 2,000+ houses - so the plan needs to address the future of the WHOLE parish.

How far have we got?

• We have carried out two paper consultations, as well as two online surveys, to find out what is important for the people of Dordon.
• We have taken your views onboard, and have worked closely with planning experts to produce a comprehensive Neighbourhood Plan.
• The plan should soon be ready for publication, in time to influence any large-scale developments that may go ahead.
• Once the plan is published, there will be a referendum where everyone living in the parish will be able to vote on whether the plan is adopted.

Many thanks to the children of Dordon Primary School, who have provided us with lots of lovely artwork for our neighbourhood plan!