NEIGHBOURS to a proposed development site in Weymouth have again objected to an application to build seven flats there.

Many say the scheme in Preston Road is little different to a previous one which was rejected – with the same problems, including overlooking, increased traffic and a change to the character of the area.

Several say the flats are not needed pointing to the number in the area which remain unsold, including a plot where the original building was demolished, but has still not been built on.

Dorset Echo:

Said one resident in a letter of objection to Dorset Council: “There is a bungalow on this application site which if modified could suit the requirements of a family with a disabled member... Just because it would only be one unit rather than seven doesn't make it less important or valuable to the council's housing stock. At least people would be living in it.

“Estate agents and developers are calling all the shots. The larger homes are advertised as 'commercial opportunities' and are snapped up by developers secure in the knowledge that they will be able to build flats. No one else gets a chance to buy or renovate them to meet their specific needs.”

Weymouth town council has joined the 16 residents who have written to object with an objection of its own. It says the scheme should be rejected on grounds of highway safety, traffic generation, parking, visual appearance and materials, character of the neighbouring streets, scale, loss of daylight and sunlight, layout and density, overshadowing, loss of outlook, risk of flooding, noise and disturbance from construction and nature conservation concerns.

Developers Nylo Homes say the new scheme has been reduced in scale to the front and rear with the roof line considerably lower – the re-design also increasing the distance of the rear of the building from 4 Furzy Close.

The company says they have undertaken a detailed daylight impact study which concludes there would be no 'undue light restrictions' on No 58.

It claims that that the changes have met previous objections: “The comments from the respective officers, neighbours and Weymouth Town Council have been addressed, with the subsequent design changes resulting in a much improved scheme which will remain in keeping with the character and appearance of the Preston Road area,” said the company.

A report to the council from the company’s planning agent maps all the other sites in the road which have seen flats developed over recent years – concluding that the application for six two-bed flats and one 1-bed, is little different from the other schemes.

“From review of the planning history throughout Preston road, it is evident that three storey developments in place of former bungalows and detached housing has been well established over the past 10-12 years by the local planning authority,” said a planning agent acting for Nylo Homes.