A NEW plan, with fewer homes, has been submitted for a site off Overcombe Drive, Weymouth.

The initial proposal, for six homes, which attracted widespread opposition, has now been scaled back to four three-bed detached properties.

In November last year the previous application attracted more than 20 letters of objection with both Weymouth town council and the Weymouth Civic Society asking Dorset Council to reject it.

The linear site is on open land between Nos 38 and 40, with an electricity sub station behind it.

Objectors to the six-home plan said last year they were worried about the size, scale and potential flood risk from the outline planning application as well as a loss of natural habitat and impact on the surrounding landscape.

Several, including Mrs Joanne Purslow said at the time that the character of the proposed homes would not be in keeping with the existing houses in Overcombe Drive and Ringstead Crescent.

“They will have an overbearing impact on the neighbouring properties, services and amenities. In the design the plans show as if it is built into the existing bank, these properties are going to rise above the road level, they will be four stories high having an overbearing and overwhelming impact on the surrounding area,” said Mrs Purslow in her letter of objection.

Ray Watton, from Elite Homes, said at the time of a town council  committee when the proposals were criticised that the finished development would look different from the initial plans. He told the Dorset Echo: "What we've submitted so far is just an outline application. I reviewed the site last week and realised we may be pushing the parameters too far. We are going to sit down with the council to design something much more sympathetic to the street scene and more fitting with the local area."

The new application for the 0.22 hectare site, shows four 3-bed detached homes evenly spaced with the proposal to create them in buff brick and render with timer-effect cladding and slate-effect roof tiles.

Plans for the re-designed site, which are available to view on the Dorset Council website, show parking for eight cars in total.

Comments on the application can be made until August 18th.