Developers having another go at building on Weymouth site
A space off Mandeville Road has seen numerous planning applications
Another attempt's being made to build houses on a ‘gap site’ off Mandeville Road in Weymouth.
The field, leading to what was once the Value House discount store, has seen several applications to build over recent years – varying from 90 to 36 homes.
Each has been rejected with many residents and local councillors claiming the open field is needed to separate Wyke Regis and Lanehouse.
Other objections have included the impact on the Heritage Coast, drainage and traffic concerns and the effect the extra homes would have on the ecology of the area.
The latest outline, or ‘in principal’ proposal is for 32 ‘affordable’ 3-bed starter homes which he hopes with find favour with local residents and Dorset Council planners.
The previous application, made last year was for 36 homes, a third of them classed as affordable.
A planning agent said the new proposal would not be an isolated or sporadic development but would in-fill the section between the existing bungalow and new homes on the Value House site to the north-west and Mandeville Close.
The agents claim the reduced number of homes would still maintain a ‘green buffer’ between the two settlements and respect the sensitive character of the landscape.
To achieve this all of the new homes, in two rows, have been positioned backing directly on to Mandeville Close, leaving a large open space between there and the 40 homes recently completed on the former Value House site.
Early objectors to the latest proposal point out the lack of facilities in the area. One says:
“Our schools are lowering their intakes. The roads are already inadequate for the traffic as well as safety for pedestrians. Doctors’ surgeries are at breaking point with less staff and more patients. Our local green spaces are becoming far and few! And to show NO consideration for the properties that are already existing that will have people over-looking into their houses. The wildlife have already been disturbed thanks to other building works in close proximity!”
The previous application in early 2022 led to a petition with more than 145 signatures, with objections from Chickerell Town Council, which has again objected to the latest plan.
It says the site is not within the Defined Development Boundary and claims that while the site if just outside the recognised Wildlife Corridor it will still cause significant disruption for wildlife while extra traffic along Camp Road will add to the disturbance to local residents.
Agents for the developer, Planning Base, say the site is within 500 metres of local amenities and essential services with a bus stop 200 metres away – making the site sustainable and by moving homes nearer to existing homes, less prominent than previous proposals.
The agent adds:
“This smaller scheme and 100% affordable scheme will ensure that there is limited visual impact to this sensitive location. Any negligible visual impact should be outweighed and offset by the contribution that the site will make to affordable housing supply locally. The proposal will ‘square off’ the existing built form and thus ensures that the open green space to the north and east of the site remains. This will ensure that the land can continue to be used recreationally by the local population and also will remain as an open backdrop when viewed from the wider landscape and seascape.”
Public comments on the application can be made through the Dorset Council website until the end of December.