AMENDED plans for seven homes on a site off Watery Lane, Weymouth have attracted dozens of objections.

The greenfield site is west of the lane with the proposal for three 3-bed homes and four 4-bed homes, all with attached garages. If allowed it will also include a new bridge over the Pucksey Brook and a new site road.

A previous application for the site was submitted in 2015 but was withdrawn to await flood data remodelling from the Environment Agency, which has maintained its objection.

The plans were amended to increase the finished floor levels to take the proposed homes above the predicted one in 100-year flood risk.

Amongst those maintaining their objection to the proposals are the Dorset Wildlife Trust, the Dorset group of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Upwey Society and the River Wey Society.

Weymouth Town Council has also continued its objections – saying the site is outside of the defined development boundary for the area and has traffic concerns, local flooding issues and concerns over the planned sustainable drainage system. The council says there is also confusion over the route of a footpath which the Ramblers Association say would need diverting.

Concerns have also been raised by Dorset Wildlife Trust who say the trees proposed for removal are “have both significant ecological value and amenity value given their current location along a public footpath.” It has asked Dorset Council to make Tree Protection Orders for the most significant trees on the site or the tree line as a whole.

The Environment Agency has maintained its objection, asking Dorset Council to reject the proposals. It says is has concerns over plans for changes to the profile of the river channel and the flood risk, asking for additional modelling on both issues.

The view is supported by CPRE which says in its latest letter of objection: “There are no significant changes made to counter the flood risk. Tinkering with the river profile and bridge design will not prevent flooding in Watery Lane. In addition the problems with over-subscribed sewers remain with associated health risks as set out in detail in our previous objection. And as we pointed out before, these houses are not affordable and do not help the housing crisis.”

Full details of the application, ref 2023/03922, can be seen on the Dorset Council website.