PROPOSALS for more than fifty homes on a site off Wanchard Lane at Charminster is being recommended for approval – despite objections.

If the application is agreed developers will need to meet strict guidelines on a drainage plan to reduce the risk of surface water flooding in the area.

The site, of 2.5 hectares, is on farmland next to a 70-home housing scheme already under construction by the same company making the application, Wyatt Homes. It lies opposite the Dorset County Council highways depot.

Thirteen of the properties will be ‘affordable’ for rent with five two-bed and three-bed shared ownership properties. The rest of the scheme is made up of three and four-bed houses.

Charminster parish council has objected to the application due to the volume of traffic coming out on to Weir View and the lack of an alternative access.

That view is shared by several of the 14 people who have written letters commenting on the application. Some suggest that access should be shared between Wanchard Lane and Weir View.

Some say they have misgivings over road access for the site and believe the two schemes together will be an over development of the village.

Wessex Water say the site is in a groundwater flood risk area where there is a “high risk of foul sewer inundation during periods of prolonged wet weather leading to sewer flooding.”

The company say it will need assurances about a groundwater management strategy and a scheme for surface water drainage: “adequate performance of soakaways and infiltration ponds when the water table rises must be demonstrated,” they say.

The condition is just one of several which planning officers suggest be imposed should councillors vote in favour of the application when it comes before the West Dorset District Council planning committee on September 13th.