Planning permission has been granted for the second phase of Bridport Cohousing's Mead Lane scheme.

The plans were approved at a meeting of West Dorset District Council's planning committee yesterday.

As reported in this week's Bridport News, the scheme had been revised since the application was originally submitted.

At the planning meeting on Thursday, Bridport Cohousing's professional advisor Charles Couzens said: "If this application is approved the residents of the parish will benefit from a local lettings policy which prioritises local people in housing need. And we will be working with Bournemouth Churches Housing Association who will own and manage the affordable rented homes.

"With planning permission granted today the whole scheme will be able to be built in one phase forming a sustainable and affordable neighbourhood for the benefit of Bridport and surrounding parishes.’’

There had been objections to an initial application to build 28 further units on the site from Allington Parish Council, but the members of Bridport Cohousing have limited the scheme to 19 further units and diligently addressed all of their concerns, and with a car share scheme planned as part of the cohousing sustainability strategy, and extra car parking spaces allocated in the revised plans, they are confident that residents will not create parking problems for nearby estates.

Half of the two, three and four bed houses and one bed flats will be for leasehold purchase at 80 per cent of open market value and half for affordable rent through BC’s partner housing association, Bournemouth Churches. The group anticipates starting to put in groundworks over the winter period and having homes ready for occupation in late summer 2019.

BC member Lin Scrannage said: "We are so thrilled that at last all the permissions are in place. It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey, but at last we can begin to start building the homes that are so badly needed."

For information about how to register interest in a home and how to become a member of Bridport Cohousing Community land Trust visit www.bridportcohousing.org.uk or phone 07907 993587.