A CONTROVERSIAL development in Weymouth has been unanimously recommended for approval.

In a meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s planning and traffic committee on Wednesday, it was decided that proposals for 39 homes at the Old Rectory site in Lorton Lane, off Dorchester Road, should go ahead.

Final approval of the plans will be subject to several conditions, including an agreement for the provision of off-site affordable housing and a £75,000 education contribution to local schools.

A number of residents submitted formal objections to the proposals, and members of the public were present at the meeting to reiterate their disapproval of the plans.

Issues raised included loss of privacy, insufficient surface water drainage, traffic problems and the destruction of wildlife habitat.

Some residents criticised the number of houses, but case officer Darren Rogers told councillors: “The site has been allocated for housing for some time, so the residents could have expected that some housing would be built.”

He added the Local Plan only specified a restriction to development size of ‘approximately 30’ dwellings and this figure was flexible, so 39 properties was not against regulations.

Some residents criticised both the concentration of properties to the north of the site – one of which was just 12 metres away from a bungalow in Springfield Crescent.

But councillors were told building properties to the south of the site would be difficult due to the proximity of electricity pylons.

Developers Koori Limited were broadly praised by councillors for their plans, and among proposed solutions, the company suggested installing a surface water drainage basin, maintaining wide open spaces, protecting trees and removing windows directly overlooking existing properties.

Cllr Anne Kenwood responded to concerns over plot locations, saying: “Looking at this application, I don’t like to see this area built on. [But] there is a grade two listed building which doesn’t want to be surrounded by a lot of other things […] and if we move things it wouldn’t be such a good design.”

Cllr Kevin Brookes said: “I think the applicant, on this occasion, should be congratulated for coming forward with such a good plan. We have seen other schemes for this site with much more houses. My only concern is construction traffic driving up and down Lorton Lane.”

Full details of the plan can be viewed by searching applications on dorsetforyou.com/planning/weymouth-and-portland