A DOZEN people have opposed plans for eight homes on a Dorset Council-owned site off Hetherly Road, Weymouth - although the Town Council raised no objection.

Most objectors have called for the recreation space to be protected and say they are worried about the effect extra traffic will have on the area.

But the developers, who already have outline permission for five homes on the site, won at appeal, say the scheme will provide much-needed new homes and protect the footpath between Hetherley Road and St Andrews Avenue.

Some of the residents say they are disappointed that the town council did not object to the proposal to increase from five to eight homes.

Said Mrs Sarah-Jayne Garman in her objection letter: “May I say how disappointed I was to see our town council approve this planning application having previously refused the outline planning application for 5 houses. This is highly concerning! I understand the chair of the town committee informed the councillors before they discussed this application that the planning officer wanted to make them aware of the developer being paid costs for the appeal… Can I assume that this means every development refusal would win at appeal and that less favourable developments will be approved in future based on fear of having to pay appeal costs?”

She also raised concerns over a lack of turning circle and claimed the development would result in further parking problems, with an increased risk of an accident.

She, and other objectors, also believe the number of homes to be an overdevelopment of the site and their design not in keeping with other homes nearby.

Mr Jerry Matthews said he believed there are unresolved concerns over water and sewage overflow. He was also critical of Weymouth Town Council claiming that only three of the councillors at its planning meeting admitted to having read residents’ comments – but still voted for the scheme.

Wessex Water had originally objected to the site layout but lifted that when the developers submitted a foul sewer diversion plan.

A final decision will be made by a Dorset Council planning officer.

A previous outline application for five homes on the site was rejected with a decision given in favour of development at appeal in September 2019.

The new application by Palmer Homes Ltd is for eight semi-detached homes and parking space for 16 cars. The homes would be in pairs, four on either side of an existing footpath which connects Hetherley Road and St Andrews Avenue.

The developers say the 0.24 hectare field is not recognised in the Local Plan as open space and the path through the site is not a public right of way, factors which they say weighed in their favour at the appeal. The company has promised to protect the path within the new development.

Said the Inspector in his summary on the appeal for five homes: “I recognise that the proposal would result in the loss of this green space between communities. This would have a degree of harm on the users of this open space. However, this is not public open space, and the footpath through will be maintained.”

In their submission to Dorset Council for full planning consent Palmer Homes say that the proposed houses will be at a similar density to those nearby with half having three bedrooms and the rest with four: “This would provide a good mix of family housing and meet identified needs for these sized properties. It would also provide a much-needed boost to housing land supply, a benefit specifically cited by the inspector dealing with the previous appeal,” said the submission.

The proposed access to the site would be from the west, along Hetherly Road.

The previous scheme for five homes led to seventeen objections to the development including comments about an adverse impact on trees – many of which were removed towards the end of February in preparation for building works.