PLANS are moving forward for an urban extension of about 500 homes on the edge of Weymouth.

The proposed development on the north side of Littlemoor Road has sparked concerns from residents in the current development.

But it appears to be progressing, as those behind the scheme hold a series of consultation events before submitting a planning application.

A public event is being held at the Top Club in Louviers Road, Littlemoor, from 12noon to 7.30pm on Thursday, September 3.

A series of smaller events are also being held at Littlemoor Library from Tuesday, September 1 to Saturday, September 12.

Richard Boother, from consultancy firm RPS, which has been working on the plans with the Littlemoor Development Consortium, said the consultation event will put forward the plans for a mixed use development of 500 homes as well as commercial space and community facilities including a school.

He said that leaflets have already been delivered to residents in the Littlemoor area and he encouraged people to come along to share their views on what is being put forward.

Mr Boother said: “Once we have received the comments from the consultation exercise we will give those due consideration and look to fix the masterplan and do an environmental assessment on that then look to submit a planning application around the turn of the year.”

Local county and borough councillor Mark Tewkesbury was keen to encourage residents to go along to the public consultation events to find out more about what the plans involved and share their views.

He said: “I would encourage local residents to go along and ask questions of what the Littlemoor urban extension involves.

“I would urge people to go and see what the plans are.”

Littlemoor residents have previously voiced concerns about the impact of the extension and Peter Ruffell is among those to have concerned.

He said: “There is no real infrastructure to cater for further housing and the plans I have seen don’t seem to in the way of meeting that infrastructure.

“I think it’s a bad idea, it’s a beautiful place to live Littlemoor and it’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and to put hundreds of houses on the north side of Littlemoor Road is going to be a major folly.”

Mr Ruffell added: “One of the benefits of living in Littlemoor is being you are close to the open countryside and it’s just a shame to spoil it.”

The housing allocation is set to be included in the Weymouth, Portland and West Dorset Local Plan, which has yet to be adopted.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) environment and sustainability brief holder Cllr Ian Roebuck said: “We are expecting to adopt the local plan later this year.

“Planning applications take some time to prepare and assess, so the fact that this consultation is taking place now does not necessarily mean that the application will need to be considered before the adoption of the plan.

“All applications will be considered on their merits at the time of decision making.”

Responses should be sent to Littlemoor Consultation, RPS, 20 Western Ave, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4SH or via email to littlemoorconsultation@rpsgroup.com and are requested by September 18.