Councillors will visit the site of a proposed housing development near Dorchester after hearing residents' concerns.

A decision on a controversial scheme that could see 120 homes built at Charminster was deferred at a West Dorset District Council planning meeting and a site visit arranged.

A number of residents attended the meeting and voiced their concerns calling the application ‘premature’, ‘too large’ and a ‘strain on infrastructure.’

Roger Stretton, a resident, said the development would harm the village’s identity.

He added: “This development is not appropriate for the village of Charminster. The size and scale are out of proportion.”

Richard Coode said: “The application is premature, too large and will have a detrimental effect on life in the village because if accepted it will be the first step to wider development.”

A report before the committee said the area where the site sits is marked on the Ordnance Survey as "Medieval Village" and has archaeological potential. It also states there are a number of listed buildings, including Wolfeton House, surrounding the site, and that it lies in an area designated as Land of Local Landscape Importance.

Paul Kelly of the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: “There would be a lot of impact on the landscape. The wonderful views from Poundbury Camp and the Aqueduct will be affected. There would also be a great strain on infrastructure. This is a rural area.”

The plans are for a large-scale development in an agricultural field south of Westleaze.

Councillors had been recommended to approve the scheme subject to the an agreement that 35 per cent of the homes are affordable, that a play area is provided, that the two hectares of open spaces is maintained and there are pedestrian enhancements within the road network.

Chairman of Charminster Parish Council, Mark Simon, spoke at the meeting and said residents are opposed to the plans because of the ‘time, scale, infrastructure and impact of the development.’

He also compared the housing scheme to the recent development at Charminster Farm, which will see 70 homes developed.

He said: “Residents aren’t ‘nimbys’, we don’t think it is the right development at the right time or place.

“This proposal is a lot bigger than the one at Charminster Farm

“Now is not the time to support big developments like this but to support our own local planning process.”

Councillor Timothy Yarker, who represents Cerne Valley, said: “If we do this it will leave a legacy of damage for future generations.

“What this will do, if agreed, is destroy resident’s faith in authority to plan in an orderly and sustainable way. I urge you to refuse the application.”

Alex Bullock, a representative of the applicant Land Value Alliances (South West) said the application is recommended for approval and planning permission should be granted. He also explained that there has been no objections by the highways authority, despite residents' concerns over an increase in traffic and questions over safety.

Councillors raised concerns that a site visit hadn’t been arranged prior to the meeting.

Cllr Simon Christopher said: “I am intrigued why we haven’t had a site visit. I am interested whether this is sustainable development.

“There are photographs that could have been taken, we could have benefited from seeing things.”

Committee chairman Cllr Nigel Bundy said a site visit had been ‘considered’ but the committee chairman and vice chairman had decided it was unnecessary.

He said: “The benefit we felt would not achieve above and beyond what could be taken by the application, the officers report and the photographs.

“It is down to members to make themselves familiar with an application. There was nothing to stop each individual member viewing the site.”

Cllr Bundy added: “Having heard the representation and that they wish to visit the site, then that is what we will do."

The site visit has been arranged for Monday, February 12 before the application is considered again by the committee.