Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Neighbour opposition to plans for nine homes on a site near Weymouth have led to it being rejected.
Some claimed they had not been directly informed of the impact of some of the homes proposed for the School Hill, Chickerell site – claiming overlooking, and that the proposal was “a total over development.”
Dorset Council said none of the homes would meet national space standards with future occupiers having to endure cramped living conditions.
Other concerns included the traffic from the site adding to existing vehicles from Boardman Fields and the proposed Persimmon development which would all have access onto School Hill.
The 0.2hectare bungalow plot is wedged between two new housing developments in the area.
“This part of School Hill is already heavily developed and we would urge the council to reconsider and reject this unsuitable proposal,” said one neighbour.
Chickerell Town Council also lodged an objection telling Dorset Council that there was concern about vehicles reversing onto or from School Hill and what it saw as an inadequate surface water management plan.
The outline proposal for the site at 20A School Hill, Chickerell included the demolition of an existing chalet bungalow.
It had been put forward by Mr Paul Turner with access to the proposed new properties via the existing drive close to the junction with Frys Boardman Fields site to the north.
A previous planning consent for the 0.2hectare site, for 8 or 9 homes, had been approved in summer 2021 but has since lapsed.
A planning agent argued that the new proposal would fit in well with the area with its proposed two storey homes, including two mews-style properties to the rear of the site.
The agent said the site would have an ‘intimate feel’ with the design allowing natural surveillance to minimise the risk of crime.
Dorset Council’s decision to reject the plans said the proposal failed to achieve good design: “It does not reflect local character in terms of scale, and the excessive density would lead to a clear overdevelopment of the site with cramped plots and footprints.
The layout is poorly conceived, with no thought given to bin storage,” said the notice rejecting the proposals.
Concerns were also expressed by Dorset Council about drainage and traffic.
