Planning permission to build two detached homes at 6 Back Lane, Cerne Abbas, has been refused by Dorset Council.

The homes were proposed, side by side, on the site of a tennis court and part of the large garden.

Agents said in the application that they would barely be seen from the road and would have a minimal impact on the overall character and appearance of the area. They were to be built of stone and brick under a tiled roof with feature chimneys, in keeping with surrounding homes within the village conservation area.

Each home would have had an integral garage and an additional two parking spaces.

Cerne Valley parish council objected to the application claiming it was contrary to the neighbourhood plan and were also concerned about the density and size of the proposal, loss of privacy for neighbours, the impact on the conservation area and on highway safety.

Similar objections were raised by local people in letters to the council and a letter of objection was also lodged by the council’s conservation officer who made a number of arguments why the scheme should be refused because of its importance to the conservation area and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.