MORE than a dozen objections have been made over the details of a 26-home development planned for Haywards Lane at Child Okeford.
The scheme, which is opposite the village school, was given outline permission in 2019.
Many of the letters express concerns about a lack of parking and possible congestion near the school entrance.
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The application to Dorset Council provides the details of the design of the homes and the layout and landscaping for the 1.2 hectare site. It comes from ELT Bournemouth Ltd.
The scheme proposes six 4-bed homes, thirteen 3-bed and seven 2-bed. Ten of the two and three bed homes will be ‘affordable’ rent or for shared equity.
The site will provide more than 60 car parking spaces, two thirds of those allocated to a specific property.
Included on the development will be a play area and a pond to help deal with site drainage.
Outline consent was granted subject to a number of offsite financial contributions towards schools, sports, play, rights of way and allotments in the area.
Objection letters are mainly concerned about additional traffic near the school, congestion likely to be caused at school pick-up and drop-off times and limited pavement space near the site entrance.
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Others say the scheme will put additional pressure on local services and amenities.
Said one letter from a Rectory Lane resident: “I believe that the look of this development is entirely out of keeping with this area, which is a rural community. It looks entirely urban, with very little space between the houses, and very little garden space.”
Another objector, who lives in Gold Hill wrote: “This development would not contribute any social benefit to the village. It would fail to deliver housing to the young and disadvantaged because there is absolutely no local employment available in Child Okeford.”
Other concerns include additional pressure on the local GP surgery and a claim that there will be a pedestrian access via Allen Close, which backs onto the scheme, ‘by default’. Several letter writers expressed concerns about possible loss of hedgerows and wildlife habitat with bats said to be often seen in the area.
Comments on the application remain open until July 19th – Dorset Council reference /2021/01582.
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