A DORSET village could be getting several new homes – despite the fact that the proposals lie outside the boundary identified in the local plan.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s (WPBC) planning committee will discuss two applications for a total of 12 homes on land south of Plaisters Lane in Sutton Poyntz when they meet on Wednesday.

In papers to be put before the committee, councillors are recommended to grant conditional approval of the sites because of an 'historic under delivery of housing [...] in sustainable locations'.

But there are objections from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) officers, Weymouth Civic Society, Dorset Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) and dozens of residents. (NOTE: Haven’t put the exact number, there are 119 on one app and 83 on the other but this includes Weymouth Civic Society, Dorset CPRE and Sutton Poyntz Society and a lot are repeated eg the same objection has been sent to both apps)

The report notes that: “The site is outside the defined development boundary as set out in the adopted local plan, within the Sutton Poyntz conservation area, and within the Dorset AONB.”

Now, the chairman of the Sutton Poyntz Society Mike Blee (CORR) is urging concerned residents to attend the meeting at North Quay to protest against the proposals.

He said: “The new local plan took several years of research, drafting, debating and public consultation as well as independent inspection at great cost to council taxpayers.

“Ignoring its policy on development boundaries makes a complete mockery of this process. If the council wishes to vary the development boundary they should have proposed it when the plan was drafted.

“It is appalling that the planning officer is recommending approval when the public has not been consulted on any development boundary change.”

The first proposal is for nine houses. Three would be detached and five bedroomed, with

two four-bedroomed semi-detached and four two-bedroomed terraced properties.

The second proposal is for three detached houses which would have five bedrooms each.

The report explains that while the site is outside the development boundary, a policy of the local plan is that there is a presumption in favour of development in sustainable locations.

It states: “Given the historic under delivery of housing the council should look favourably at any opportunity to increase that supply in sustainable locations.

“Having said that the impacts of the development in this area and other matters is a balance that has to be weighed up against the need for more housing.

"On principle, I [planning officer] do not consider that development of this site could be resisted on the grounds of it being outside the development boundary alone.”

In summary, the report states: “With appropriate conditions the proposal would not be harmful.”