Planners have refused permission for a new home at Silverhay Farm, Netherhay.

The application had the support of the parish council and had attracted letters to Dorset Council both for and against the plan, including an objection from West Dorset CPRE.

In its decision letter the council says the site is considered to be unsustainable and the proposal would be unacceptable within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, beyond the edge of the hamlet and within a kilometre of Drimpton. It also says that the site, to the north east edge of Netherhay, is not identified as suitable for further housing in the recently adopted Broadwindsor Neighbourhood Plan.

A planning officer also concluded that the building would have been of an ‘inappropriate’ scale, appearance and materials and in an ‘awkward juxtaposition’ with the main farmhouse being sited in open countryside.

The proposal was for a three-bed detached house, described as a ‘retirement home’ over two storeys with access, parking and a garden area in the field to the east of Silverhay which itself was permitted in 1981. The applicants, Mr and Mrs Heditch, said the proposed building would have replaced a two-bed mobile home used as ‘ancillary family accommodation’ to the main farmhouse – although the council ruled that the use of the caravan home had no bearing on the application.