An outline application for 58 homes on a site north and west of Cockroad Lane at Beaminster has been approved by local planners.

Twenty of the properties are proposed to be ‘affordable’.

The site is one of three in the area currently going through the planning process with concerns locally about how they will link together.

Beaminster Town Council is among those calling for a more co-ordinated approach while the Beaminster Society is concerned about putting housing on some of the area which had been designated originally for employment use.

Agent for the developers Peter Dutton told Dorset Council’s area planning committee that building homes on the site would bring significant benefits to the area, not only from the housing but through the creation of jobs and support for local services.

Highways officer Ian Madgwick said the access to the site off Cockroad Lane was adequate for the 58-home scheme and he raised no objection, but said he would have preferred to see a comprehensive road scheme, involving all the land owners on adjoining sites, which could include a roundabout and footpath improvements.

The committee accepted the recommendation to approve the outline application.

Details of the scheme will be considered at a later stage.