The Northern Area Planning Committee had five planning applications scheduled for discussion at its meeting on Tuesday 16 July 2024. Four of the applications concerned housing developments. The remaining application concerned an application to retain a change of use from residential to mixed use, part residential and part office.

Land South of St Georges Road, Dorchester

A planning application from The Secretary of the Duchy of Cornwall¹ was scheduled for discussion that sought permission to build 107 houses and flats, and carry out associated works, including new access roads. The report pack says that:

The site is located within a very sustainable location and is allocated for development in the local plan.

The scheduled discussion would have considered the design, scale, layout and appearance of the development. It included discussion of the relationship to the Grade I Listed building Max Gate, the former home of Thomas Hardy, which the report pack describes as:

a villa-type residence of the later nineteenth century, which is itself set in relatively well screened grounds, consisting of a mix of mature trees and dense shrub growth.

The report pack also says the scheduled discussion would consider:

the implications of the proposed development for the setting and significance of nationally important archaeology

The scheduled discussion would also have considered how it might affect the existing Syward Footpath Level Crossing which Network Rail² wished to close. The application attracted objections from a number of local residents. Their objections largely concerned the impact of the proposed development on traffic, parking and the quiet enjoyment of their properties.

Land North East of Lower Bryanston Farm, Fair Mile Road, Bryanston

The committee was also scheduled to discuss an application to build 75 houses and associated infrastructure on land at Bryanston. The land in question is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also borders a number of conservation areas. The application was a reserved matters application, meaning that the principle of building on the site had already been approved. The discussion would have been concerned with the detailed design of the proposal, including layout, scale, landscaping and appearance.

The applicant, Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties³, proposed a development that would provide Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties is a British housebuilding company.

On-site informal outdoor space for public use of 3,187 sqm adjacent to the northern boundary to retain openness and a soft transition to the rural edge of the scheme; this is more than the minimum of 2,800sqm required in the s106 agreement.

The discussion was also scheduled to consider the mix of houses included in the development. The report pack says:

The aim of Policy 7 Delivering Homes is to create mix and balanced communities. To achieve this Policy7 states “…the Council will support the delivery of about 40% of market housing in North Dorset as one or two bedroom properties and about 60% of market housing as three or more bedroom properties.” It also states that these proportions will be the starting point for negotiations and a different mix may be permitted if it can be soundly justified by local circumstances.

Mushroom Farm, Cow Lane, Poyntington

The committee were also scheduled to discuss an application to build two houses at Mushroom Farm in Poyntington. The application was submitted by Hopkins Estates Ltd. The report pack explains that:

The proposed development would provide a betterment over and above the fallback of the Class Q prior approval which has been previously approved on this site for the conversion of the barn.

The discussion would have considered the visual impact of the development and its relationship to the surrounding area, as well as how it might affect biodiversity and the local road network. The report pack says:

The application site of application P/FUL/2022/02416 is identified, on the policies map of the development plan, as forming part of the countryside.

5 Mill Lake, Factory Hill, Bourton

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application from Mr Sean Dandy to retain the change of use of a house at 5 Mill Lake in Bourton from a house (Use Class C3) to a mixed use, part house and part office (Use Class E). The report pack explains that the building is:

a 4-story terraced dwelling, currently in mixed use as an office and dwelling.

The scheduled discussion would have considered the principle of allowing offices on the site, as well as the impact of the change of use on parking. It would also have considered objections from Bourton Parish Council⁴.

2 Vale Cottages, Ring Street, Stalbridge

The final application scheduled for discussion was an application from Mr & Mrs Tottle to build a single storey rear extension on their house at 2 Vale Cottages in Stalbridge. The house is within Stalbridge Conservation Area, opposite the Grade II Listed building Brunesella and the Thatched Cottage.

The scheduled discussion was to consider whether the proposed extension would harm the character of the Conservation Area, or the setting of the listed building.