An application for four “affordable” homes on pasture off Axminster Road, Charmouth has been withdrawn after concerns were raised.

The ‘in principle” planning application had been submitted to Dorset Council for the 3,700 square metre site on the northern edge of the village to the west of Brackendale.

Previous planning applications, for between one and three open market homes, have been agreed for the site in the past, the most recent in 2020, but was not built.

Several statutory bodies consulted over the latest proposals said that they need more information before coming to a conclusion. Charmouth parish council said while it agrees with the need for affordable housing in the area the lack of specific details made it hesitate about expressing support.

It said the primary concerns were that the site is at the extreme edge of the village, far from services and outside the defined development boundary and warned that care should be taken over environmental factors such as noise and air pollution levels which it said might merit careful assessment given the proximity to the A35.

“With these concerns, including lack of detail on the dimensions of the site access, the Parish Council feels it is unreasonable to express a view on the principle of development without knowing the details of the housing design and tenure,” said the parish report.

Dorset Council’s tree officer said he objected to the application because of inadequate information and a proposal to remove trees on land outside the site and on highway land, which would not be permitted.

National Highways raised no objection to the proposals while Dorset Highways asked for further details about how a large refuse vehicles would access the site, before commenting.

The Dorset Area of Outstanding Beauty team said that it was generally in favour of affordable schemes, in appropriate locations. Adding “As this is an outline application, it is only possible to appraise the principle of the development, which overall does not appear to be unacceptable in terms of impacts on landscape character and/or visual amenity.”

According to planning agents acting for the site owner there is a need for affordable homes in the area with 13 applicants on the housing register who identify Charmouth as their preferred location.

The planning application said that some work might need to be completed, if the principle of the homes is approved, on ensuring foundations are not prone to land instability.