Councillors to consider development of 140 homes on land west of Crossways

Outline plans to build the new houses, including affordable housing, a children’s play area and green space on land adjacent to Frome Valley Road have been submitted to West Dorset District Council (WDDC).

WDDC’s planning committee granted permission for 85 new homes to be built on the land in May 2016 following an application from developer Woodsford Farms, despite objections from residents and parish councillors at the time.

The revised application now suggests a 65 per cent increase in the number of potential new homes. Of the 140 proposed homes, 35 per cent will be affordable housing, according to a report submitted with the application. Woodsford Farms, represented by Nexus Planning, has also said it will create 5.6ha of publicly accessible SANGS (Suitable Accessible Natural Green Space), with a car park for visitors.

The plans have already been criticised online, with one village resident saying the development would be “too close to existing properties” and would lead to a “hazardous” increase in traffic.

In the report, a statement says: “The revised scheme includes an increase in proposed dwelling numbers at the site, however there is no significant change to the development area.”

It comes after the first phase of a 500-plan development at Crossways was approved by the planning committee in November last year.

Councillors voted to accept the proposal to build 99 homes, a doctors surgery and a village hall farmland on land south of Warmwell Road. Councillors also gave the go-ahead to an outline application for 401 further open market and affordable homes on the site.

Silverlake, a sustainable 1000-home holiday development on the former Warmwell Quarry, also opened in February last year. It covers a 650-acre estate and features a country club and spa as well as hundreds of holiday homes.

Comments from members of the public must be made by Friday, February 23. Find the plans online at webapps.westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk