OBJECTORS are celebrating today after councillors again threw out proposals for a high-density development at Poundbury, Dorchester.

Cheers erupted from the public as West Dorset District Council's planning committee decided by a majority of six to two to reject the proposed Jubilee Court development on Bridport Road.

The decision came despite a long report by council planning officers recommending approval of the 26 flats, two shops and four offices.

Developers Woodpecker Prop-erties had a similar proposal turned down last year because councillors said there would be too many people living on the space.

After hearing objections from people living near the development the committee again refused the plan because it was 'too massive and too dense'.

Paul Breakwell, who lives opposite the site, spoke on behalf of a residents' group.

He said: "The overwhelming message is that this latest application is virtually identical to the one that this committee considered and turned down.

"We can't spot any meaningful changes to the overpowering mass of the previous plans.

"This is a watershed application, and not just for Poundbury. Its ripples will be felt way beyond Dorchester, in the wider area and nationally, wherever developers have aspirations to build at high density in semi-rural locations."

For the Duchy of Cornwall, Andrew Hamilton said the proposals were simply an extension to the Poundbury ethos.

He said: "The scheme continues to extend the approach of integrating public housing with private housing."

He said there had been a reduction of one storey in height from the previous application and there were now 26 flats, as opposed to 31.

Coun Stephen Friar said he was unable to see any real difference between the new application and the last one.

He criticised the lack of a masterplan and said Poundbury's architecture so far had been 'a missed opportunity'.

He said: "We have this Italianate tower which is more in keeping with Regency Cheltenham than rural Dorset and a quasi-Renaissance fountain that looks as if it was bought at a B&Q oddments sale."

Speaking after the meeting, resident David Dawkins said he was 'relieved' at the result.

He said: "We're in the debt of committee members again today who have been prepared to stand up to the Duchy and listen to what real people are saying."