Plans for homes on Blandford farmland agreed

Plans for hundreds of homes on farmland and allotments in Dorset have been agreed by councillors.

The application by Wyatt Homes for 490 properties off Blandford's bypass was recommended for approval, despite strong local opposition.

The developer sought full planning consent for 150 homes, as well as outline permission for a further 340.

Opponents described the plans as "urban sprawl" and "flying in the face" of planning guidance.

Speaking at Tuesday's area planning meeting, Rupert Hardy, chair of Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), said housing targets for the area were already being met.

He also said there was no need to build on the countryside or in the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Peter Slocombe, chairman of Pimperne Parish Council, said the application, which includes part of the parish, was also in conflict with the Pimperne Neighbourhood Plan.

He said: "We will see a major development in the AONB and its setting, we'll lose the important local gap between Letton Park and Blandford, we will lose valuable farmland."

Blandford town councillor Alan Cross said: "I disagree with everything that has been said by my friends in Pimperne who are fixated with this gap between Pimperne and Blandford.

"Not one of the new homes will be visible from Pimperne. The proposed development has been designed sensitively."

The planning officer's report acknowledged there was "a conflict" with the council's development plan, which says building in the countryside should be resisted.

But it said this was balanced against a number of benefits, which included land for a school, 30% affordable housing and highways improvements.

The 37-hectare site is to the north and east of Blandford bypass and is bisected by Salisbury Road.

The application was agreed by Dorset Council's northern area planning committee following a three-hour debate.

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