Campaigners are continuing to press for a large site on Dorchester's London Road to be used for affordable housing – rather than retirement homes.

McCarthy and Stone is asking for the former Watson Petroleum site to be used for more than forty retirement apartments.

The application has attracted criticism for what some see as the company's 'off the peg' design which several objectors say fails to take into account its surroundings.

Several are still pressing for the district council to use at least some of the £4million it has set aside for affordable housing schemes to buy the site and ensure that it is used to help local families have a home of their own.

That proposal has the official backing of the Dorchester Town council planning committee.

Retirement builders McCarthy & Stone wants to build 44-45 apartments on the site. If it succeeds it will be the company's fifth retirement home development in the county town.

When it was discussed by town planners earlier in the year Cllr Andy Canning said he was disappointed by the company's approach to the site.

“The design is very poor and doesn't fit in with the environment around it. This one just seems like every other one they have built."

The thoughts are echoed by the district council's design and conservation officer Sally Knott who says: “ The scale of the proposed development as one essentially linear block, is monotonous and not in scale, proportion or designed to local references. The large single block should be broken down into smaller blocks, in order to offer permeability through the site, and to provide a human scale to the street scene...The scheme should be locally distinctive and improve and contribute to the character of the area. This is after all the entrance to one of the most complete historic high streets in the country in High East and High West Street.”

She suggests the scheme be withdrawn and the company return to talk to planning officers about what might be acceptable.

Amongst the public comments on the scheme is one from Dorchester resident Robin Elford who says: “I object to the proposed development as with the council desperately trying to increase the supply of affordable housing in Dorchester, a further apartment block and an influx of retirees from the home counties is exactly what the town doesn't need....The only winners in this situation are the developers who sell the apartments at top prices to cash rich buyers. The developers walk away with a tidy sum, the local population walk away with longer waits at the GP and day surgery clinics.”

Although the majority of comments are against the proposals, as they stand, there are several letter writers who say they would welcome the development.

But many reflect the view of Lee Rhodes, who says: “These 45 ‘quality’ retirement living apartments will be for rich elderly people and therefore the majority from outside Dorchester.

There is already too much priority given to accommodation for rich elderly and not enough for social housing for younger people in housing need.

I would like West Dorset District Council, which recently set up a corporation, to buy this land and to use the entire area to build social housing. What you call ‘affordable’ housing, at 20% below market rents, is not affordable.”

He points out that there are over 1,500 people on the housing waiting list, but many more sleeping in cramped conditions or on friends' and families’ sofas because, he says, they know there is no point in going on the register.

“We want to end what amounts to an increasingly segregated county where those on lower incomes are forced out of Dorchester. This splits up extended families and creates transport problems and social division.”

Civic Society shares views

Dorchester Civic Society is also against the scale of the development: “ In the view of the Society, this character could be better reflected by relieving the long unbroken frontage of the development, perhaps by breaking down the building into a small number of separate blocks with varied building lines, materials and roof heights. The Society is of the opinion that this would be helpful in avoiding perceptions of “over development” of the site and make the proposals more in keeping with established residential development in this part of Dorchester and much less prominent in views along London Road.”

It is also asking for the return of trees which once used to line the street.

“The Society believes that development of this substantial site presents a perfect opportunity to make a major contribution to a process of re-introducing trees along the London Road frontage, significantly improving the overall appearance of this gateway to the town as well as enhancing the setting of the development itself.”

Further comments on the scheme are welcome to be made to the district council by January 21st. The application reference, which can be found on the DorsetForYou website is WD/D/18/001153.