DISTRICT planning chiefs have ruled against a housing scheme in a Purbeck village that could have provided 24 affordable homes.

The proposal for 32 dwellings at Spyway Orchard, Langton Matravers, had attracted 115 objections from residents, with just seven people contacting Purbeck District Council (PDC) to support the development.

Its refusal comes after district council housing spokesman Cllr Mike Lovell recently criticised the government decision to scrap housing companies’ contributions on small developments.

Speaking after that Whitehall ruling came into force at the end of November, Cllr Lovell said: “This new policy removes a large number of potential affordable houses.”

However, following Wednesday’s Spyway Orchard decision by PDC’s planning committee, Rob Turner – the developer behind the plans – said: “We were disappointed with it because we were gifting part of the site for 24 houses to a housing association. Now this opportunity has been taken away from local people to see anything get started soon.”

Planning committee members backed a council planning department report recommending the scheme should be refused.

This report’s summary stated: “Whilst the proposal represents a positive opportunity to provide a significant affordable housing contribution to serve Langton Matravers, the proposed number of open market properties to support this is excessive.”

Out of the 32 homes planned, eight would have been built for the open market – meaning 75 per cent of the development could have included affordable homes.

The report also stated the development would have a “negative landscape and visual impact on the Dorset Area Of Natural Beauty” and highlighted flood risk issues.

Among the neighbours submitting letters opposing the scheme was Brian and Ann Beard, who wrote: “Such a development at Spyway Orchard would spoil and ruin irrevocably our enjoyment of living in this village.”

Meanwhile, Purbeck resident Cary Wood’s letter of support stated: “I am local to the area, born in Swanage and my parents live in Acton. My husband and I cannot afford to buy our own home and have to put up with the uncertainty of renting private properties.

“Please can we ask that you give this development your full support and consider the young people in the village and couples like ourselves who would love to live back in our village and be nearer our family.”