Planning officers are recommending approval for a scheme for six homes on a corner site in Rodwell Road, Weymouth.

The town council, civic society and neighbours had objected to the application to demolish No 53 and build six two-bed flats on the site.

The revised planning application follows two previously refused applications at the site and two dismissed appeals since 2016.

Amendments made to the plan are now said to have largely overcome concerns about the effect on a neighbouring property, according to Dorset Council planning officers. They will tell a planning committee today that there is no longer any reason to reject the proposals.

Their report says that the existing house is in a poor state and the proposal to demolish it and build 6 flats would see car access off Rodwell Avenue with pedestrian access via a door on Rodwell Road leading to a communal entrance hall. There would be 6 car parking spaces with a cycle store and bins storage area.

Weymouth town council has objected to the proposal on design grounds and the positioning of the buildings, together with the loss of green space.

Other objections featured the size and scale of the proposed new building and the effect on the listed homes opposite; claims that the design is out of character for the area and over what is seen as a lack of parking.

Weymouth Civic Society said that the design is “totally inappropriate for this location, being quite out of keeping with other buildings in the area,” in its formal objection lodged with Dorset Council. It said it was also worried about the proposed building being so close to a corner of the road junction.

Planning officers say that two appeal inspectors have found the scale and design of the building acceptable, despite local criticism, and say that changes to some aspects of the design has mitigated the effects of the new build on an immediate neighbour.