WEYMOUTH town council has found itself at odds with more than 25 people who object to plans for 18 affordable flats on the Buxton Road site of St Nicholas Church.

The town council has welcomed a planning application for the demolition of the church building, replacing it with the ‘affordable’ two-bed flats in a four-storey block. The plan has been submitted by Bournemouth-based Hector Benjamin Ltd.

But more than 25 residents have each written to Dorset Council to say they want the scheme, as it is, turned down. Many have commented that they welcome the affordable homes on the site – but object to the scale and location of the proposed flats.

Two local councillors have now called on Dorset Council to bring the application before a planning committee because it is so controversial, rather than have a decision made by a planning officer.

Most of the objectors say the proposal is an overdevelopment; will overlook neighbouring homes, especially a bungalow in the north west corner; and with a likely increase in traffic could add to problems for schoolchildren, elderly people and car drivers. There is also a bus stop on the main road close to the church site.

Said one objector, Nigel Davenport: “sadly there appears to have been no effort made to integrate the design with that of the fine examples of Victorian houses adjacent to the site and thus enhance the overall appearance of the area. Instead, this development would overshadow the handsome and rare Victorian architecture and adversely dominate the streetscape.”

His views are shared in an objection letter from Weymouth Civic Society.

Two Dorset Council ward councillors, Clare Sutton and Brian Heatley, have asked for the application to be decided by a planning committee rather than a council officer.

Said Cllr Heatley : “This is a significant development involving a conflict between securing affordable accommodation and the need to preserve a conservation area, and I believe that as such it is a matter that should be considered by the planning committee and not delegated.”

Cllr Sutton says that residents in Down Road should have also received a consultation letter in addition to immediate properties.

St Nicholas was opened in 1964 and is part of the Church of England parish of Holy Trinity.  The congregation moved out last year.

Canon Andrew Gough of Holy Trinity said at the time that the church was cold and some of its facilities were often not used by the congregation; that the building was decaying and the church could not afford to keep it running.

The application for the flats, described as ‘affordable’, show each unit of 67 square metres with a lift within the block.