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A PLANNING showdown between Christchurch Borough Council and landlord Dave Wells is scheduled for later this month after the developer called them "the most difficult authority we've ever had to work with".

The two sides are set to meet at a planning appeal later this month, which will decide whether an application to demolish the existing building at 221 Barrack Road and replace it with a two-and-a-half storey block of 10 flats and two semi-detached bungalows can go ahead.

Members of the planning committee rejected the application in January over concerns the type of housing proposed would result in a cramped development, which would be out of keeping with the surrounding area.

Mr Wells, who already has planning permission for developments in adjoining properties in Barrack Road, said he had little choice but to appeal.

"Christchurch council has been extremely difficult and seems to be giving the concept of affordable housing lip service rather than serious thought." He added: "They didn't listen to anything we had to say at the committee meeting earlier this year."

But Cllr David Jones, chairman of Christchurch council's planning control committee said: "Our experienced planning officers who looked at this particular development were concerned about the siting, the number of units and the spread of the development.

"We at Christchurch council are completely committed to the provision of affordable housing but, in the interests of all of our residents, we expect any housing development to be of a high standard.

"We have no objection to a development on this site but expect it to be of a quality which will not be detrimental to the area. We will be robustly defending our stance at the planning appeal."

4:00pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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