760 homes at Vearse Farm approved

“What is the point of designating this country’s finest landscape as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty if you allow it to be built over?” said a Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England spokesman, Dr Guy Dickinson.

Others called on the council to unleash its “inner Oliver Twist” and ask the developers for more.

Concerns were also raised about the impact of extra traffic the scheme will bring, light and noise pollution and the lack of a safe pedestrian route across the A35.

More than 300 of the first homes of the estate will be built with gas boilers which Cllr Nick Ireland said was “just penny-pinching” when more eco-friendly boilers could be used instead, although he accepted Government legislation did not give the council power to insist on higher building standards.

Several objectors said the council had allowed the developers to put forward a scheme which reflected the reality of a decade ago, not something which takes into account the world as it is now and which would avoid ‘green’ standards for buildings due to be introduced in 2025.

Many complained about the lack of solar power, air and ground source heating and blocks of social housing, rather than having the homes spread out among open market homes. Other said the ‘affordable’ homes would not be within the reach of many on average wages and there was nothing to stop most of the properties being bought by retirees or second homeowners.

Several called for further negotiation to iron out many of the points with Portland councillor Paul Kimber calling for a site visit before a final decision was made on the detailed proposals of the scheme – outline consent having already been granted. His call was rejected by the committee.

Objector John Guy said the 16-20 per cent increase in the area’s population because of the development was unprecedented and not justified. He said that not offering employment land on the site until 400 homes had been occupied would merely force those of working age to commute.

Another, John Grantham, described the entire plan as flawed and based on what he called “yesteryear research.”

Cllr Paul Hartman from Symondsbury parish council said there was still room for improvement on a number of aspects of the scheme to avoid it becoming what he described a “self-contained island site.” He also raised concerns about the location of some affordable homes, light pollution, further improvements needed to soft landscaping and the need for better flood alleviation measures.

The scheme, known as Vearse Farm, has now been re-named as Foundry Lea with a consortium of developers put together to develop it.

The 43-hectare site, within the Area of Outstanding Beauty, has been objected to locally since it appeared in the Local Plan.

The developers say the new homes, including more than 300 classed as "affordable" will bring with them allotments, play areas, an orchard, and a sports pitch with changing rooms and financial contributions to local health services and the Bridport leisure centre, as well as other payments.

Land for a school, care home and employment use is expected to follow once the scheme has been established and will be the subject of separate planning applications in the future.

An officer report to Thursday’s planning meeting said the proposals are considered to be of an appropriate appearance, layout, landscaping and scale with the five ‘distinct’ housing areas responding to other house styles in the area.

It also claims the landscaping would “conserve and enhance the AONB, biodiversity and existing trees and hedges and provide appropriate new planting.”

Most of the homes, 318, will be 3-bed with 212 4-bed and 195 2-bed. Six per cent of the homes will be flats (28), and one per cent made up of eight 5-bed homes.

In total 40 per cent (302) will be ‘affordable’, 36 more than the 35% target figure with 186 homes for rent, 80 for shared ownership.

A small area of the site, 0.4hectare, will be set aside for self-build homes where mains services and access will be provided.