MORE than 60 objectors will find out this week whether a controversial housing scheme in Weymouth is to go ahead.

The development, on a council-owned site off Spa Road and Roman Road, is being put forward for 13 houses and 6 flats.

The application has led some residents to accuse the council of ‘riding roughshod’ over their views by selling the land to a developer.

There had also been criticism that the planning decision would have been made by a council officer, although the authority has since bowed to public pressure and will let a committee of councillors make a decision this Thursday.

Fourteen of the new homes, if approved, will be accessed from Roman Road with five fronting Spa Road.

The Roman Road section proposal includes a block of flats at the north end of the site with a communal parking area on the east side. Roman Road is then extended in a southerly direction with houses on its east side.

Almost 60 people have written to Dorset Council to objected – with two writing in support.

Planning officers are recommending agreeing the application.

They want the final decision delegated to the head of planning subject to 35% affordable housing on the site, an off-site ecological payment of £10,600 and a gravelled footpath- scheme to be submitted including safety barriers at the junction with Spa Road, with the route to be permanently open to the public.

A  report to this week’s committee says the scheme is sustainable, adjacent to existing homes and would ‘preserve the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and setting of the neighbouring listed building’ and will have ‘a minimal impact on the amenity and privacy of neighbouring residential properties.’

The area has been used for many years for informal recreation and by dog walkers.

One objector called for the planning decision to be taken out of the council’s hands while another reminded the authority: “The site is owned by Dorset Council and councillors and those advising them will be aware that the prospect of a capital receipt is not a material planning consideration and not therefore a factor to take into account when considering this application.”

Said resident Mrs Glenda Fraser: “On a whim, to raise funds, the council proposes selling the land for development, ignoring the objections of the local community and the adopted Local Plan.”

The developers, who have an option to buy the site from the council, say the homes will help local people find a home, including offering some lower priced flats, and make good use of a piece of redundant land.

Included among the objectors to the Devon and Dorset Properties Ltd scheme is Weymouth Town Council.

It says the proposal is outside the development boundary for the area and is not included in the Local Plan for housing. Town councillors were also concerned about the loss of habitat for wildlife and the extra traffic it would generate for nearby roads.

A planning consultant acting for the company says in his report: “This type of provision has the support of the council’s housing enabling officer who considers there is a shortage of such homes, which allow young people/ first time buyers access to the housing market, in the Weymouth area.  There would be a small balancing payment so that the total provision equates to 35% as required by the Local Plan.”

It says the  development has been designed to reflect the character of the Spa area of Weymouth with access partly from Roman Road. It believes that the new accesses and additional homes would not create traffic problems in the area. Provision is also being made for a new footpath along the western side of the site connecting Dorchester Rd, Roman Rd and Spa Rd.

“We would submit that this application represents a modest, carefully designed and appropriate response to the development of this sustainable site which has been released for development by the local authority. Indeed its release reflects the instruction from Government contained in the National Planning Policy Framework for local authorities to take a proactive role in releasing their underutilised land for development,” said the planning consultant.