COUNCILLORS have unanimously turned down proposals for a major housing development in an old Portland quarry.

The application from Portland Stone Firms Ltd was to build around 69 cottages and flats at Bottom Coombe Quarry.

The plans had been recommended for refusal in a report to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s planning and traffic committee, which said among other considerations, the site was outside the borough’s development boundary and conflicted with its designation in the Local Plan as an ‘important open gap’.

Several residents had written highlighting concerns including highway concerns around additional cars and potentially building on an important open space.

But Portland Stone Firms said it believed the site would be a good location for new homes and would ‘address the shortage of sites for budget housing within the borough and particularly on Portland’.

The issue was debated by councillors following a visit to the site.

Councillor Margaret Leicester said she was against the proposal as it was outside the development boundary and would be built in an ‘important local gap.’ Coun Christine James agreed, saying a new housing development could add to problems on the road network.

Coun Robbie Dunter said: “There’s enough issues with this to back the officer’s recommendations.”

Coun Sandy West said she couldn’t support the application and that they had to stick to local planning law. She said: “We have local planning laws – if we blur the lines all the time, we might as well not have them.”

Coun Ray Banham said it was important to remember the council had reached its target for housing on Portland under the existing Local Plan.

Councillors unanimously rejected the proposed application.

Speaking after the meeting, estates manager for Portland Stone Firms Tim Clotworthy said the company still believed the site would be a good location for homes on the island and would be now looking at their options.

He said: “We thought planning officer Chris Moscrop did a very balanced presentation and we were not surprised at the outcome.

“We still feel that the site is the right location for good quality, affordable family homes and we are reviewing our options in this respect.”