HIGHLY contentious plans to build 25 homes on the northern edge of Shaftesbury are set to be approved.

More than 200 letters objecting to the Nylo Homes scheme to develop land between Enmore Court and New Road have been submitted, raising concerns about building on the Northern Scarp Slopes.

And although only one person has written supporting the plans, the Dorset Council northern area planning committee is being recommended to approve them.

A previous proposal to build a single home on the site was refused in 2012 – a decision which was backed at appeal.

The planning inspector said the small development would not result in any “meaningful” benefit to the community and said it would have a negative impact on the rural character of the area.

New plans seeking permission to build 25 homes, eight of which would be ‘affordable’, were put forward by Nylo Homes in June.

It said the land was an “ideal” site to develop and that there was a “clear” need for new housing in north Dorset.

However, the scheme has attracted widespread opposition from people living in Shaftesbury who said it could have a “devastating” impact on the conservation area.

Only one letter supporting the application has been submitted while 207 objections have been put forward ahead of councillors considering it on Tuesday (May 28).

Among them is Shaftesbury Civic Society which said it would cause a “substantial” increase in traffic while also raising concerns about its location and the “lack of infrastructure”.

Karen Wimhurst, who lives in Bimport, said: “There are plenty of other sites designated within the settlement boundary that do not have the devastating impact on the conservation area which should utilised first prior to destroying the rural beauty of this historic town.”

Despite widespread opposition in the town, a report by planning officer Robert Lennis, published ahead of a decision being made next week, recommends that permission be granted.

“It is considered that the impacts of the proposed development, having particular regard to heritage assets, would be less-than-significant,” he says. “As such, there is no clear reason for refusing the proposed development.”

“The adverse impacts of the proposal would not outweigh the community benefits, particularly in the provision of open market and affordable housing, which should be given significant weight in the planning balance.”

A decision on the application will be made at the first ever meeting of the new Dorset Council northern area planning committee on Tuesday (May 28).