A DEVELOPER has launched a fresh bid to build hundreds of homes on fields next to a rural community on the outskirts of Weymouth.

Residents at Nottington have expressed renewed concerns over potential flooding and traffic problems they claim could affect the community.

CG Fry has resubmitted proposals for 340 homes on land off Nottington Lane and behind Dorchester Road in the hope they are given approval and a costly planning appeal inquiry avoided.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's planning committee rejected the scheme last year, going against officers' recommendations. Reasons for refusal related to drainage/flood risk concerns and highway safety.

Councillors were warned at the time the decision to turn it down could prove costly if it were challenged. The applicant subsequently appealed and a hearing is due to be held this summer.

The council recently decided it won't be presenting any evidence at the appeal as it has been advised by consultants its reasons for refusal cannot be defended. The appeal is still due to go ahead at this stage and a number of residents have made representations to the plan inspector.

David Lohfink, Land and Planning Director at CJ Fry & Son, said: “It is common practice to 'twin track' a revised application with an appeal in circumstances such as this.

"It would also be normal practice to withdraw an appeal and cancel an inquiry if a revised application is approved by a council beforehand.”

Mr Lohfink said people have to bear in mind that the site is an allocated piece of land for housing in the local plan.

The council is welcoming comments on the resubmitted plan up until April 26 before councillors consider it again.

The 16.25-hectare development site covers an area of fields south of Nottington Lane. There would be accesses off Nottington Lane and another onto Dorchester Road opposite Redlands.
The original plans were first unveiled three years ago.

Cllr Pam Nixon says many residents will be disappointed the plans are up for a second time.

She said: “There will be mixed feelings about this. There has been a lot of strong feelings from the residents and rightly so. Housing is needed, but many people will be upset.”

David Lohfink addressed residents’ concerns, saying: “We have concluded that it would actually improve the surface water situation, and our evidence suggests that the highways can cope.”

Fears over potential flooding risk
Residents remain concerned about issues including potential flooding risks, increased traffic through the village and the loss of fields. 

Glenn Mitten, who lives in Nottington and owns a mobile car servicing and repairs company, said: “It’s the water coming off the fields. The fields soak up the water and with houses there it won’t. I know the couple on the corner get the floods, they’re older people in their eighties.” 

Jenny Goulter, who has lived in the village for 34 years, said: “It’s about the quality of the village, we take pride in where we live. We’d have to put up with building work for years.”

She also spoke about how the flood risk leaves residents in the village afraid. She added: “A few years ago our back lawn got flooded, and we never got flooded before. It makes us fearful.”

Residents were also resounding in their concerns about the potential traffic that the site would bring. 

A couple identifying themselves as Mr and Mrs Bennett, said: “At rush hour they expect three more cars per minute at the end of Nottington Lane. If you get out in 20 seconds at the moment you’re already doing well. In the summer there’s also five camping sites nearby and we get a lot of vans driving through. For a small road, Nottington Lane is already busy."

However, a resident who wished to remain anonymous, agrees with the plans. He said: “They should, why not? They’ve got to put the houses somewhere. It doesn’t affect us.”