COUNCILLORS agreed to move forward with plans for the second phase of a housing development in Lyme 
Regis.

West Dorset District Council’s Development Control Committee agreed the proposals by Bloor Homes for 56 homes at Woodberry Down, off Colway Lane. 

The councillors agreed to delegate to the head of development services at the council to grant planning permission subject to securing a provision of 35 per cent affordable housing and make a contribution of almost £100,000 to the nearby St Michael’s Primary School. 

This is the second phase of the development. Planners have already given gave the go ahead for the first phase of 46 homes at Woodberry Copse in 2014, with construction currently under way. 

Opposition was presented at the meeting over the fact that the development will be a visible obstruction in the Area of Natural Beauty and that Colway Lane would not be able to deal with the increased traffic.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

One local resident, Paul Tomkins said: “This will be a visible obstruction in the Area of Natural Beauty. There will be a high magnitude of change.

“This will be very damaging on views to all residents.”

Lyme Regis Town Council voiced their objections over the standard of Colway Lane but Dorset County Council’s highways team had no objections to the plans.

Mr Tomkins also raised objections based on traffic but Dorset County Council highways had no objections. 

Geoff Richards, the applicant agent said that the plans had been very well received and only four letters had been received objecting to the plans. 

Cllr Thomas Bartlett backed the plans but wants the affordable housing designated for the site to go to local people. 

He said: “We should be looking for as many new houses as possible and recommend approval.

“I think it’s important that if you are going to have affordable housing that it is for local 
people.”

Planning case officer, Debbie Redding, said that part of the S106 agreement for proposals such as this means that the housing is offered first to people from the Lyme Regis area before being offered to the wider West Dorset area.