DORSET Council is being called on to reject a developer's plans to build a major new housing estate on land earmarked as a nature reserve in Weymouth.
As reported, Aster Housing has recently submitted a planning application for 66 new homes at Littlemoor, south of Louviers Road, Cornflower Close and Gentian Way.
Dorset Council has recently published plans for the site to become part of a major new Lorton Valley Nature Park, joining with the current Lorton Meadows nature reserve and RSPB Lodmoor. But residents are concerned the council may now go back on its word and agree to houses being built there instead.
The Lorton Valley Nature Park was proposed by the council in the new Dorset Local Plan "to promote sustainable tourism... enhancement of public access and open spaces and opportunities for volunteer and community involvement," as part of a partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and Natural England.
However the council has now stated its plans for the reserve "will not carry any significant weight" when the developer's planning application is considered.
"We are concerned the council has changed its mind regarding the use of the land as a nature reserve," said local resident Peter Smith.
"The council should not be duplicitous - they said they were going to do one thing for the people of Weymouth, so they should not be persuaded to do another."
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He added: "We want to hold the council's feet to the fire to make sure they honour their decision and stick to their proposal, to set aside this area as public open land. There are already high numbers of homes being built here - for this site to be suitable for development, it would require significant excavation - I, and many others, cannot see how this is worthwhile or necessary."
Planning consent for 58 homes was granted at the site in 2018, before being sold on to Aster in 2020. It is claimed that Aster has now submitted a new application, for a greater number of homes, because the original planning consent will expire soon.
If approved, the development will be alongside the Lodmoor Sands development from Persimmon Homes, the first of the latest developments south of Louviers Road.
Other big housing schemes are planned north of the main road which could eventually bring an extra 500 homes to the area.
Public comments can be made on the planning application via Dorset Council's website until June 21, reference P/FUL/2021/01697.
A Dorset Council spokesman said: "The Dorset Council Local Plan was prepared for consultation. We are considering responses made through the consultation and will decide whether changes need to be made to the draft policies and strategies in the plan in response to the issues that have been raised and any further evidence which the council has gathered.
"A number of people have raised issues in their responses relating to the boundaries of the Lorton Valley Nature Park. The council will be reviewing these issues and deciding whether there are planning grounds for extending or reducing the area covered by the proposed park. Any decisions around changes to the extent of the park would need to be justified with evidence, consistent with national planning policy and deliverable.
"The council has granted two planning permissions relating to land to the south of Louviers Road, Littlemoor. Construction work is well advanced on a site for 114 homes (WP/17/00832) and outline permission has also been granted for 58 homes (WP/15/00341/OUT) on an adjacent site.
"There is also a further current planning application relating to the site for 58 homes. The applicants are seeking permission for the ‘Erection of 66.no (Use Class C3) dwellings, formation of accesses, landscaping and associated infrastructure and works.' (P/FUL/2021/01697).
"Interested residents have the opportunity of commenting on the current planning application (The consultation period on the planning application expires on June 21 2021). The council will take account of all relevant planning issues raised in responses on this application before reaching a decision.
"The draft Dorset Council Local Plan, and the draft policy relating to the Lorton Valley Nature Park (Policy WEY19), would not carry any significant weight as considerations when assessing this current planning application because the draft plan is at an early stage in its preparation, with adoption in 2023."
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