The Eastern Area Planning Committee of Dorset Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, to discuss several planning applications. These include a large residential development with a village hall, a proposal for a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), and an application concerning the retention of buildings and a change of land use to include alpaca trekking.

Binnegar Hall Redevelopment

The committee will be considering planning application 6/2018/0228 for the redevelopment of Binnegar Hall in Binnegar, Wareham. The proposal includes the construction of 48 dwellinghouses and a village hall, along with access improvements, parking, and landscaping.

The application seeks outline consent, with only access and the principle of residential development to be determined at this stage. Matters of layout, appearance, scale and landscaping would be determined later, if the application is approved.

The report pack notes that a previous planning permission for residential development has been implemented on the site, establishing the principle of residential use. A key aspect of the proposal is the provision of 40% affordable housing, amounting to 19 units. The development also aims to deliver a new community hall for East Stoke Parish.

Financial contributions are expected to be secured towards education and special education needs. A section 106 agreement may be used to ensure these contributions are made.

The report pack identifies several key planning issues:

• Principle of development: The site is located outside a defined settlement boundary. However, the report pack notes that the council supports the growth of local community infrastructure to avoid social isolation and reduce the need to travel to access everyday facilities.
• Scale and impact on character and appearance: The proposed scale of development is considered acceptable, subject to plot size. The report pack states that the overall silvan character would remain, provided existing trees are not incorporated into private gardens.
• Impact on living conditions: The report pack asserts that neighbour amenity would not be compromised.
• Flood risk and drainage: The proposed development would not have a significant impact in terms of flood risk, and the proposed drainage strategy is considered acceptable.
• Economic benefits: The proposal would bring benefits resulting from the addition of up to 48 dwellings to the Council's Housing Land Supply, as well as provision of CIL and s106 contributions to mitigate the impacts of the proposed development and proposed some enhancement towards community facilities and education provision.
• Highway impacts, safety, access and parking: The proposal is considered acceptable in regard to access and highways safety.

Several consultees have provided feedback on the application. Natural England has no objection subject to a S106 legal agreement to secure mitigation. The Ministry of Defence (Bovington) also has no objections.

East Stoke Parish Council supports the application in principle, as it will significantly contribute to the identified housing need and particularly the affordable element as defined in the Local Plan.

Dorset CPRE objects, stating that the proposed change of use would not serve the public interest in protecting the valued countryside concerned together with its high bio-diversity value. SUEZ also objects, raising concerns about the proximity of dwellings to quarrying operations.

Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)

The committee will also consider application P/FUL/2023/07467 for the use of land south of the A352 (Wareham Road) in Binnegar, East Stoke, Purbeck, as a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG). This includes associated access, landscaping, infrastructure, and alterations to the road.

This SANG is proposed to mitigate the environmental impacts of the proposed development at Binnegar Hall. The report pack recommends granting permission subject to conditions and the signing of a S106 legal agreement.

Key issues outlined in the report pack include:

• Principle of development and general location: The proposed SANG at Court Farm is well positioned near the pending outline planning application for 48 dwellings at Binnegar Hall.
• Impact on Dorset National Landscape: The report pack states that there would be no adverse impact on the landscape.
• Layout and Appearance: The proposal is considered to be acceptable.
• Impact on Trees: The report pack states that there would be no adverse impact on the landscape.
• Highway impacts: The Highway Authority has raised no objection to the proposals subject to conditions and an informative note.
• Local amenity: The report pack anticipates no adverse impact, and a net benefit from creating green infrastructure which would limit the need to travel.
• Impact on ecology and biodiversity: The proposal would improve the nature conservation interest of the site.

Natural England has no objection subject to conditions, and details to be secured in a S106 legal agreement. The Dorset National Landscape (AONB) Team also has no objections.

East Stoke PC objects on grounds of highway safety.

Hope Farm, Corfe Mullen

The committee will also discuss application P/FUL/2024/06189 relating to Hope Farm, Mill Street, Corfe Mullen. This application seeks permission for:

• Retention of a stable/rural building.
• Siting of a mobile home to be used as a temporary rural worker's dwelling with sheds for ancillary residential storage.
• Change of use of land to a mixed agricultural and alpaca trekking enterprise.

The report pack recommends granting planning permission subject to conditions.

Key issues identified in the report pack are:

• Principle of development: The report pack states that the dwelling is functionally required to be in a rural area.
• Impact on the Green Belt: Although the dwelling is inappropriate development in the Green Belt, its agricultural functional need represents a very special circumstance to permit it. The stables/rural building is appropriate development in the Green Belt, and the proposed mixed use as agriculture and alpaca trekking would preserve openness.
• Impact on highway safety: The report pack anticipates that the proposal will be acceptable, subject to conditions advised by National Highways.
• Impact on the landscape: The report pack states that there will be no adverse impact on the landscape.
• Flood risk: The report pack states that there will be no risk to the development from flooding.
• Impact on Heritage Assets (HAs): The report pack states that the development is adequately screened by existing vegetation so as not to have an adverse effect on HAs.
• Biodiversity: The report pack states that biodiversity enhancements are to be secured by condition.

National Highways is concerned at the potential increased road safety risk associated with any significant intensification of use of the site access onto the A31. However, subject to planning conditions being applied to any permission, National Highways would be unlikely to sustain an objection to the proposals on highway safety grounds were the proposals to be subject to a planning appeal.

Reading Agricultural Consultancy Ltd has stated that the business is viable and there is an essential need for a rural worker to reside on the holding.

Corfe Mullen Town Council objects, raising concerns about harm to internationally designated sites, sites of special scientific interest, and the Dorset landscape character area.

Other Business

The committee will also consider the minutes of the previous meeting and any urgent items brought to the attention of the Chair, Councillor David Tooke.