Beaminster Town councillor blasts affordable housing scheme

But despite the negative comments, the scheme, which will provide affordable homes, was approved unanimously.

It will also be one of the most eco-friendly developments in the area with no oil or gas for heating and cooking, solar panels, electric car chargers and heat pumps.

Town councillor David Gillings told the area planning committee that the development, off Cockroad Lane, would never win a design prize and that Dorset Council should have insisted on better.

Cockroad Lane in Beaminster, the location of the affordable homes scheme (Image: David GIllings) He said all the buildings were almost identical in appearance, the streets were straight and characterless and he could see no reason why the play area was ‘banished’ to the north west corner of the site out of view of most of the homes.

The planning officer who has overseen the proposals, Bob Burden, described the councillor's comments as "subjective" and said he, personally, was pleased with the design work.

The development will be adjacent to a 100-home development adjacent to the main road although councillors were told there could be no direct access from and to that development for traffic – the 58-home scheme instead relying on a new bridge to be built across the River Brit with access to it via St James and Cockroad Lane.

The homes on the site will be a mix of two-storey properties in terraces and semi detached with plans to provide each with solar panels and air source heat pumps – with electric vehicle charger also available. None of the homes will have oil of gas for heating or cooking in line with climate change objectives.

The proposed layout for the site (Image: supplied) Housing association Abri Homes, who will manage the properties, said that despite the town council criticism the development would create “a desirable sense of place” with trees retained and additional planting proposed for the site.

Head of land and planning for the association, Phillipa Yates, said the homes would be a mix of affordable and split ownership.

She said the association, which has 800 homes in Dorset, was committed to help reduce the 6,400-strong waiting list for homes in the county.

Ward councillor Craig Monks said he welcomed the energy saving measures for the new properties but remained concerned about the number of vehicles likely to access a relatively narrow road.

He said he was also concerned about the potential for pollution to the river during the construction phase, but was told there would be measures in place to prevent that happening.

Marshwood Vale councillor Simon Christopher said he was happy to back the homes proposal:

“It seems a lot of consideration has been given to it and many of us won’t be horrified by what we see,” he said.