Thinking of moving to Poundbury Dorchester

[RosieLeaLovesTea]

Hi all
We are thinking of moving to Poundbury. It would be a really big life change for us as we currently live in a city. Went to see house yesterday. Ticks a lot of boxes. Good schools. Dorchester one mile away. Weymouth approx 20-25 mins. But I would need commute approx 1 hour 20 each way 2 days week. Is it manageable long term.

Anyone else live in Poundbury? Do you like it?

Anyone else moved from the City to Dorset?

That's a very long commute. Where is the job?

We visited and tbh thought Poundbury was completely soulless/characterless.

Dorset generally is gorgeous.

Is 1 hour 20 door to door or the length of the train journey?

Watching with interest, I have love -v- is this stepford wives feeling about Poundbury. The princople and rules are amazing but I never see anyone there

Poundbury is hideous. Try Dorchester proper, not some fancy schmancy Pribce’s whimsy. Soulless is right.

We used to live nearby OP. Where would you be commuting to and how would you be travelling? 1 hr 20 isn't that long if you're only doing it twice a week (caveat if that's door to door - I wouldn't say the same if that's the train journey and you have to add on top travelling to/ from station each way).

For what it's worth I like Poundbury and have had (older) friends who lived there extremely happily.

Thanks to all that replied. I would have to travel to Hampshire where I currently work. 1 he 20 is door to door. I would probably drive if it’s twice a week. I like Poundbury but wondering if it would be a shock to the system as pace of life is much slower. But we had lunch at a beach about 15 mins away and it was great views of the Jurassic coast. I do love Dorset.

I think the commute would be fine (if you have a partner who can work flexibly, if you have children at home). I commute farther than that and I used to do it 3 days a week. It was perfectly fine. I got a lot done on the train. The main consideration is cost though - can you afford the fuel/train fare on a regular basis.

As for Poundbury, I think it's totally subjective. We lived near Poundbury for 10 years. It's a bit like marmite. I know people who love it, but other people who think it's a bit of a joke. I think it's quite sterile and soulless and very 'manufactured' if that makes sense. I'd rather live in a city or a village and not a big estate. But I think it's just about what you like. It's a lovely part of the country though and I don't think you could go wrong with that.

Whereabouts in Hampshire are you having to commute to as most of the main roads between Hampshire and Dorset are clogged up nightmares especially in the summer and during rush hours. So a trip which google says takes 1hr 20 mins at a good time can easily turn into a 3 hours journey depending on which places you are travelling between. Especially if it involves the A31.

It would be a nightmare drive Dorchester to Hampshire...

I used to drive from dorchester to southampton 3 times a week and it's fine. I used to skew my day and leave dorchester at 6:30am and then leave southampton at 4 and it's perfectly doable. Would be different if you needed to do it 5 days a week!

@RosieLeaLovesTea

Thanks to all that replied. I would have to travel to Hampshire where I currently work. 1 he 20 is door to door. I would probably drive if it’s twice a week. I like Poundbury but wondering if it would be a shock to the system as pace of life is much slower. But we had lunch at a beach about 15 mins away and it was great views of the Jurassic coast. I do love Dorset.

Pace of life is definitely much slower in Dorset. I worked in the north and the west many years ago.

There are two speeds, 'go slow' or 'stop'.

Friends who moved in from cities were always quite amazed at how slow it was.

Driving is particularly slow. Not a single motorway in Dorset. The best you'll get in West Dorset is a small stretch of duel carriageway.

There are decent train connections if I remember, especially from Dorchester that has two stations and two different lines. So from one station you can head up to Bristol. You can also head up to London from the other station.

Beautiful beaches, fantastic local produce, rural rolling hills.

What about Bournemouth instead? Not quite as much of a commute, and not as much of a culture shock for you, but still by the sea.

I'd love to do this so following! 1 hour 20 door to door probably isn't the peak time reality but twice a week may be doable. Tbh I think the it depends on what route you are travelling.

We moved to Poundbury from North London 10 years ago - love being here and having the countryside on our doorstep not to mention the coast a short drive away- can't imagine not living close to the sea now. Poundbury is very convenient and I always find it rude when people feel they can openly criticize where you live. I wouldn't dream of saying the same about Manor Park the other side of town, it's a very quiet residential area with a few schools, much like many all over the country. I like our house and garden it suits us perfectly. It felt like an easy move for us and we have found it friendly in Dorchester/Poundbury.
The outdoors lifestyle is the main draw. You forget about all the trappings that come with living in the city and I find that I have no urge to go back to that and have not missed it at all. Give me the Jurassic coast and a walk up a Dorset hillfort any day.

If your commute is only for 2 days a week that sounds more than do-able, I would go for it as it's the best thing we did , no regrets at all.

The issue with wooden window frames would put me off www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19943859.poundbury-wooden-window-rule-makes-draughty-storm/

Presumably there are other barking mad rules to apply by too

I moved to Dorchester 15 years ago. It's a fantastic place to live and raise a family. Great schools, friendly, Jurassic coastline etc., All my family have moved from London to Dorchester/Poundbury now, including elderly parents. All that I know who live in Poundbury love it. It has a great community feel. Can't think of any negatives.

Poundbury "rules" some are myths eg no hanging your washing outside, not allowed satellite dishes (don't actually need them as you can still get Sky etc through a hidden away community dish that is in a box somewhere!) Poundbury is the equivalent of a conservation area except you're allowed to do whatever you want with the interior of your home -it's more about preserving the design of the exterior. Everyone signs up to the design and building code, you agree to it and it's a choice to buy here and live with it. Sure if you want to build umpteen extensions with whatever materials then don't buy in Poundbury.

I understand what people say about loving it or hating it. But I do like like town. I went to University in Bath and it reminds me of that. It’s also like Walt Disney’s town Celebration that also has rules about the exterior of homes. I’d love to be nearer the Jurassic coast and good schools. But I worry that it may be bad for my career. I want to take a step up to senior management and where I am now within 1 hr/1.5 hrs I have a lots of choice whereas being in Dorset would be more limiting. Also I would. Be moving further away from my parents who are turning 70. They may need more help in a few years.

You might be alright with the commute, depending on where in Hampshire you go to, though you would need to avoid most of the day as the traffic varies from stop start to just stop in my experience.

I have friends who live in Poundbury and they like it. I know what the pp who said about the Stepford wives feel, it is perhaps a bit construed. However, it has been designed to be a community village feel and is all relatively new, rather than developed over generations. Positives are the schools are good and easy base for getting outdoors quickly with the convenience of a town facilities. Downside, that commute would be too much for me personally. What about the towns and villages in the New Forest?

OP would you be able to do the commute at hours avoiding rush hour like PP suggested (childcare OK? Flexi time?) If you need to use the A31 (for instance if you were driving up to Winchester) I warn you it is a complete nightmare journey: very long sections just single carriageway and all around Ringwood is . What you think might take 1 1/4 could easily (easily!!) take you over two hours. And in the summer and around bank holidays of course Dorset is very busy with holiday traffic, a lot of it coming down those single carriageway roads. Not good.

Would train not be possible?

I used to work in Dorchester and live in Southampton, the drive was awful. I’d only go once a week and stay there Monday to Friday. Once you get beyond ringwood it’s all single carriageway and there’s already a tractor or 3 in your way. It would take me 2 hours regularly. The train was quicker.

I think the commute would be an issue in the summer from Dorchester. I would also suggest Bournemouth as a compromise. Dorchester is a lovely county town and I’ve always loved how perfect Poundbury looks, but think in your situation it may be a bit different from city life.