PLANS for hundreds of homes on a Dorset greenfield site are set to be approved.

Planning officers have recommended that councillors approve an application of 292 homes at Bank and Ridge Farms on the northern edge of Chickerell, submitted by C G Fry and Son Ltd.

If approved it will mean the construction of the homes, vehicular access from two new junctions off School Hill in the east and also via the B3157 via Courage Way in the west, pedestrian and cycle linkages, an extension to the burial ground of St Mary’s, landscaping, a sustainable urban drainage system including attenuation ponds, utility connections, and associated engineering, infrastructure and earth works.

CG Fry and Son have also earmarked 35 per cent of the homes proposed (102) to be affordable. A report set to go before councillors reveal that more than 1,200 households are in need of affordable homes in West Dorset - and this new development will help address that.

Originally, the proposals were submitted in July 2016 following a public consultation which saw more than 100 residents have their say on the proposals.

However, following concerns raised by residents about dwelling positions, landscaping and the negative visual impact of the development, the application was amended to reduce the number of dwellings to 292 late last year.

But, residents are still not happy.

Micheal Fixter, of St Marys Green in Chickerell said that the application was "not mature enough" adding that the development could cause an increased risk of flooding.

John Clarke of Charles Dean Walk, also in Chickerell, said that the development could significantly increase demand on the already overstretched infrastructure such as roads.

Chickerell Town Council raised concerns about the lack of healthcare facilities with the current surgery only having one doctor.

A statement said: "As one of the largest towns in West Dorset and given the additional housing in the Local Plan, demand for a health centre is growing.

"The town council would request that no further development takes place until the health centre is secured."

District Councillor Jean Dunseith, who represents the Chickerell and Chesil Bank ward, had mixed views about the development, raising concerns about potential water run-off from the site which could cause potential flooding.

Cllr Dunseith also shared the town council's concerns about the lack of healthcare provision along with the lack of suitable primary school places.

The Weymouth Civic Society also raised concerns about that the development "could be visually intrusive with an impact on the general landscape."

The proposals will be determined by West Dorset District Council's planning committee tomorrow (Thursday, March 22) at South Walks House in Dorchester.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the county, Wyatt Homes have submitted plans to West Dorset District Council to build 52 new homes to the south of Wanchard Lane in Charminster.

The plans form part of phase two of the Charminster Farm development which has already seen 70 homes being constructed at Weir View located to the west of the Wanchard Lane site.

Under the proposals, the development will consist of a balanced mix of between two and four bedroom dwellings with 18 of the units (35 per cent) set to be affordable.

Alongside this, Wyatt Homes also intends to create a defined ‘village street’ through the scheme, in the form of a landscaped route link along with a large proportion of public open space at the north west of the site. Provision will also be made for the development of new pedestrian and cycle routes through the site, linking the proposed dwellings to Charminster village and its amenities.

Meanwhile, proposed vehicular access to the site will be taken from the principal route permitted under Charminster Farm phase one.

In a statement, Wyatt Homes, said: “Barton Willmore has been instructed by Lewis Wyatt (Construction) Ltd (trading as Wyatt Homes) to prepare and submit a full planning application to West Dorset District Council for a residential development of 52 dwellings together with public open space, associated landscaping and associated infrastructure.”

Wyatt added that the scheme will also help to address a housing target to build 20,000 homes by 2033, a target set by West Dorset District Council together with North Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

They also claimed that the plans would conserve the surrounding landscape character and would contribute to positive and sustainable economic, social and environmental development of the area.

Charminster Parish Council have been consulted on the scheme with the developer and are due to submit a formal response soon.

Wyatt Homes’ plans will be considered by West Dorset District Council’s planning committee later this spring.

Average house price rises to £311,000

Dorset has some of the most expensive house prices in the UK, a new report has revealed.

The South West Home Truths 2017/18 report by the National Housing Federation found that the average home now costs around £311,426 in Dorset, 13 times the typical salary. The report said that workers now need a 190 per cent pay rise to afford a mortgage. Alongside this, it also noted that between 2012 and 2016, around 1798 too few homes were built in Dorset.

Nikki Knowles, external affairs manager for the National Housing Federation, said: “The housing market has seen a relentless rise in the gap between house prices and people’s salaries. Dorset is no exception.

“Attaining a mortgage is increasingly unrealistic and private sector rents make saving up that bit more difficult.”

The statistics come after Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and North Dorset District Councils launched their Open Doors initiative in November 2017 which pledges to build 20,000 homes across the three local authorities by 2033.

Cllr Tim Yarker, housing spokesman for West Dorset District Council, said: “Much like many other areas of the country, a shortage of homes has created a gap in affordability. We’ve recognised this issue and are taking decisive action through our Opening Doors programme.”