Dorset 500-home plans on the agenda

Hybrid plans for almost 500 homes in Dorset are back before committee next week (9 April).Land north and east of the Blandford Bypass in Blandford Forum has been earmarked for the hybrid application for the phased development for up to 490 homes and non-residential use.The outline element of the application is to develop land by the construction of up to 340 properties, along with local centre with flexible floorspace including commercial, business and services, drinking establishments and hot food takeaway.A three-form entry primary school and playing pitches are also proposed, as well as public open space, replacement allotments including allotment building and new sports pitches.The full planning element of the application seeks to construct 150 homes, form public open space, attenuation basins, parking, access, infrastructure, landscaping, and carry out ancillary and site preparation works.A report for Dorset Council planners said the application is being back to committee with a decision not yet issued as a section 106 agreement is still being negotiated.It said the application is being re-reported following changes to material planning considerations since committee resolved to grant the development subject to planning conditions and section 106 legal agreements at a committee meeting in October last year.Dorset’s Northern Area Planning Committee will now discuss the application.The report noted officers consider that the recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and to legislation through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act are such that they should not result in a change to the overall planning balance previously made on this particular application.It added members recognised that the benefits of this scheme were ‘many and weighty’ and would ‘boost the supply’ of housing, outweighing the identified conflict with the development plan as a whole.