BUILDERS Wyatt Homes have finally got the go- ahead to construct a modern flats complex at West Bay.

They have been granted approval for 18 homes on the Forty Foot Way site despite town council concerns over their contemporary design.

The company recently failed to win permission for a futuristic 45-homes scheme on the Old Shipyard Site just around the corner and is currently appealing against that decision.

West Dorset District Council principal area planning officer Gerald Hughes told councillors they now had another chance to approve "an imaginative, visually interesting and contemporary design for West Bay" despite residents apparent "fundamental widespread aversion to contemporary design."

He said the plan was to build one block of 12 flats for sale on the open market and a separate block of six flats for use as affordable homes through a housing association.

He said the shape of the building was designed to reflect the history of the shipyard site with a slightly nautical feel. He said it would be a "positive enhancement of West Bay".

Roy Downing, speaking for West Cliff Residents Association said their sole access was along Forty Foot Way and without proper footpaths it was a hazardous walk. He said they had no objection to the flats scheme but urged councillors to ask the developers to incorporate new pavements.

Mr Tony Matthews, of the West Bay Society said his organisation objected for a variety of reasons.

The height and bulk of the three-storey building would compete with the natural features of the World Heritage Coast and it was being built in a flood risk zone.

Taken with the Old Shipyard site scheme the two developments, with a total of 63 units, should include up to 22 affordable homes - yet only six were planned.

Bridport Town Council leader Charles Wild said their main concern was that the application was being considered in isolation. He said it was likely a new scheme for the Old Shipyard site would come before them again and he felt the two should be considered together.

County Highways engineer Ian Madgwick assured residents some traffic calming measures would be included in the scheme.

But he said they could not force the developer to build a footpath along the road.

In fact he said to build a pavement in Forty Foot Way would require buying some land.

Chairman Owen Lovell said he liked the development especially the affordable homes element.

The committee approved the plan subject to developers agreeing to pay just over £18,000 towards local recreational facilities.