PLANS for an 85-dwelling development in a village have come as a ‘bolt from the blue’.

Crossways Parish Council received an email on Friday evening, seen by the Echo, outlining proposals for land to the west of Frome Valley Road.

It says that Nexus Planning, on behalf of Woodsford Farms, will be circulating a consultation leaflet to residents from tomorrow, to gather views before submitting an outline planning application next month.

But the announcement has comes as a ‘shock’, villagers have said. Parish council chairman Andrew Brewer said: sending the email on Friday evening before a Bank Holiday weekend was a ‘cynical move’ by Nexus.

He said that until a new Local Plan is approved, the area is ‘wide open’ to new developments but the infrastructure cannot cope.

“Crossways is faced with the prospect of planning applications that will essentially change it into a town," he said.

“In spite of the parish council securing a much lower allocation under the local plan, delays with the hearings and the inspector overview have essentially made the community vulnerable.

“In spite of warning planners of the consequences of approving residential development outside of the perceived development boundary the recent decision on the ‘hippy field’ has opened the flood gates.

“Since then applications have been mooted for Crossways Garage to be knocked down and replaced by 10 houses and now our clerk [has] received notification of a further 85 from Woodsford Farms."

“I have circulated this to all councillors and feel it should be brought into the public domain so that our residents are fully aware of the consequences.”

The consultation document reads: ‘There is a significant requirement for housing in West Dorset to ensure that housing is provided to accommodate the growing number of households and changing demographics.

'Such development would support services and contribute to much needed economic growth. In addition, there is a serious lack of affordable housing in the district, putting housing out of the reach of many local people, particularly young people and families. There are many people in the local area who want to get onto the housing ladder, who cannot afford to buy their own home. This development will assist them to do that without having to relocate out of Crossways and West Dorset.’

The plan is that 35 per cent of the properties would be affordable housingthere would be more than six hectares of ‘publically accessible natural green space’ and new amenity areas and formal open space, including for children’s play.

Speaking to the Echo yesterday, Cllr Brewer added: “Another 85 homes with two cars each would mean an extra 170 on the roads. If all of those homes have children, that’s more places at school. These plans came as a bolt from the blue. But we are thinking ‘what’s the point in fighting?’"

“David Cameron said, in the run-up to the election, they are going to build more houses. Yes, it seems they will all be in Crossways.

“I know people will think we are NIMBYs- but Crossways has taken a huge amount of development in the last 10 years; it’s doubled in size in a decade.

“We are not against new build in Crossways, but we want it to be listened to and we want it to be at a pace Crossways can take.”

At the time of going to press, neither Nexus or Woodsford Farms could not be reached for comment.