CONCERNS over whether a home being built in a village is following planning rules have been raised by residents.

More than 30 villagers turned out to Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Council meeting on Monday to call for action against a development at Homestead Farm on Main Street, Bothenhampton.

Villagers said they were worried about the height of the development, claiming it is much higher than is stated in the planning application after a steel frame was erected on the site in recent weeks.

Resident Andy Jefferies said: “I think we have all seen developments moving on in the past month or two.

“There are concerns over whether what is happening over there is supposed to be happening. There are some significant changes to what is out there and what planning permission was sought for.”

He added that the changes in height were ‘noticeable’ and would have an effect on the neighbours and area.

Another villager said the development looked like a ‘sports centre’.

She added: “If anybody else in this village wants to cut down a tree, if anybody else wants to make a tiny change to their house we have to jump through hoops.

“I, for example, am not allowed to put a Velux window in the extension at the back of my house because it will be out of keeping with the conservation area. People of this village are asking how on earth do we have a sports centre in the middle of the village.”

Carol Irvine, also a resident of the village, urged parish councillors to pass on their concerns to planners at West Dorset District Council, as well as fellow residents, and said ‘this should not be happening’ in their village.

A spokesman for PAAD Architects Limited said: “We have been in close liaison with the local planning authority and the residents throughout the development of the plans and presented the two-development proposals at separate resident meetings.

“In between, the height of the two extensions away from the road were significantly lowered and made smaller so the fields beyond could be seen from the raised pavement. At the second presentation visual extracts from the final planning submission were presented to residents which remain unchanged.

“Whilst this is undoubtedly a significant building, it is being built as presented to the local residents and per the approved planning permission. We are in regular communication with the local planning authority and checks have been carried out at various stages to ensure that we are in compliance with the planning submission including the extra conditions applied. Currently it is a building site shell, however, we can assure residents that the final building will be as per the approved planning permission and no larger. We hope when finished this new home together with the revitalised biodiverse land and garden will prove to be an asset to the conservation heritage of Bothenhampton.”