THE fate of an ‘eyesore’ site in Weymouth is finally set to be decided.

Councillors are set to discuss plans for housing on the site of Value House, which closed down earlier this year. The matter is scheduled to be discussed at a meeting of the West Dorset District Council planning committee on December 8 – and a report recommends approving proposals for 37 houses on the Wyke Regis site.

The planning application was registered in April, and a target decision date was originally set for July. But there were delays as Value House closed in September – with a loss of around 50 full- and part-time jobs – which owners of the home and garden superstore said was due to the shop’s location and the condition of the building.

A report to the committee recommends councillors delegate authority to the head of planning to grant planning permission subject to an agreement that 35 per cent of the homes are affordable housing.

The proposals for the Mandeville Road site are for seven two-bed homes, 21 three-beds and nine four-beds.

Louise Mason, chairman of the Wyke Regis Community Association, said the plans had sparked ‘mixed views’ amongst residents. She also raised concerns that – because the site lies just inside the West Dorset District Council boundary – some close neighbours may not know about the proposals.

She said: “There are very mixed feelings. It’s been in the pipeline for so long – now the meeting is this week but few people know about it. A lot of people are already missing Value House. That’s gone, and we have to accept that but there are other concerns around traffic down Mandeville Road, about where the extra people will find work in the area. Will the houses be affordable to people already living here, will there be enough doctors and school places?”

Chickerell Town Council recommended the plans be refused.

Nicola Briar, writing on behalf of Chickerell Town Council, said: “Members recommend refusal of the application on the grounds of ‘loss of amenity, loss of employment, adverse effect on Jurassic coast view and the design does not fit in with surroundings’.”

Glen Davey, vice-chairman of the WRCA, added: “There are concerns but the site is an eyesore. If they refuse it, what else are they going to put there?”

The Dorset Highways team had no objection to the proposals and Natural England said they had ‘no further comment provided the Dorset AONB team is satisfied the proposals will not harm the protected landscape’. The site lies 2km from the AONB boundary. The AONB team said it was unlikely the proposals would produce a significant impact on the designated area.

The applicant said in the report: “This proposal provides an opportunity to re-develop the site for a residential use with well-designed buildings of much lower scale and massing and more landscaping and amenity areas, reducing the existing harm to the landscape and achieving a positive enhancement to the character and setting of the Heritage Coast.”

The meeting takes place at South Walks House in Dorchester on Thursday at 2.15pm.