COUNCILLORS have voted in favour of sending an outline application for 49 new homes and eight commercial units in Crossways for approval.

The decision came despite strong objections from Crossways Parish Council and local residents.

Members of West Dorset District Council’s planning committee discussed the application this afternoon, which involves land adjacent to Oaklands Park, Warmwell Road.

Case officer Ann Collins told members they were only viewing an indicative layout at this stage as all matters are reserved.

Issues about amenities and privacy will therefore be discussed at a later stage.

The application was discussed amid 500 possible homes being identified in the authority’s emerging draft local plan.

A number of residents had their say on the application at the meeting, including Malcolm Jakes.

Mr Jakes said: “I am utterly against this proposed planning application.

“There will be no boundary distance from this development and Oaklands Park and some residents’ back doors would be no less than eight or nine feet away.

“This application will not work with housing and commercial units.”

Cllr Nigel Bundy, vice chair of Crossways Parish Council, said there had been no proper consultation with the council.

He said: “Crossways Parish council are not against development in the village. How can we be considering what has been built over the years and the 500 proposed in the new plan.

“These have followed a full democratic procedure, consultation, discussion and agreement.

“This application is trying to cut across this democratic process and usurp the local plan process.”

Speaking in favour of the application, Matthew Holmes, director at Tanner and Tilley Planning Consultants, said Ms Collins’ report identified a need for housing.

He said: “Developing this site with housing would contribute towards that shortfall of supply.

“If the council needs housing, developing a site such as this which has previously been allocated for development is preferable to development in the countryside.”

Discussing the application, Cllr Stella Jones said: “I’m very concerned that with all we’re doing with Crossways, with more and more people living there, we are denying them the services and facilities they need.”

Cllr Tony Frost said: “I’m not sure this can be sustained - this extra development. I feel we should wait and see.”

Cllr Ian Gardner, chairman of the planning committee, reminded members they had to look at the planning application in front of them and they had to look at it in terms of the current plan.

An 8-2 majority voted in favour of delegating authority to the Head of Planning Development Management and Building Control for approval, subject to conditions and the completion of a S016 agreement.