大象传媒

A developer has been accused of trying to make a "vast profit" by attempting to sell a former prison for 拢7m more than it paid the government. City and Country paid 拢3.25m for HMP Dorchester in 2014 and is now touting for offers in the region of 拢10m, having carried out no work on the site. The move has been described by Dorchester Town Councillor Alistair Chisolm as "inappropriate" and "appalling". The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it had the right to claim back some of the profit if the site was sold. The prison closed in 2013 and the 拢3.25m paid for the site the following year was the market rate as assessed by the District Valuer.
Developer City and Country said:鈥淪ince acquiring the prison, and throughout an extensive consultation process, we have been clear about the possibility of us looking to secure a development partner to help take the scheme forward. Whilst this process has been ongoing, we have been working on site to make sure that conditions relating to our planning permission have been carried out, meaning residential development could move forward swiftly if another party were to take it forward.鈥�