PROPOSALS for nine new homes on the former Cottees Auctions site in Wareham have been refused by planning chiefs.

The applicant Simon McFarlane wanted to demolish the former auction/sales buildings at the town centre plot, building three bungalows, two chalet bungalows and four two-storey houses in their place.

Cottees Auctions relocated to Poole in 2015 and the East Street site, which lies within the Wareham Conservation Area, has been vacant since then.

Purbeck District Council's (PDC) planning committee, which convened at Westport House, Worgret Road, took a site visit to the area before making their decision.

Despite a planning officer recommendation to grant, the committee declined to back the proposals.

They argued the scheme failed to preserve the character and appearance of Wareham Conservation Area by the "uncharacteristic development of the East Street frontage of further detached houses and a bungalow which fail to have regard to the historic pattern of terraced housing development which dominates the street scene."

A previous application for 21 sheltered apartments for the elderly and six affordable apartments was withdrawn shortly before that application was due to be considered by PDC in May last year.

The council has received 21 comments raising concerns from neighbours, Wareham Town Trust and a representative of the Open Spaces Society.

However, a report to the committee did state: "It is not considered that there would be an adverse impact on neighbour amenity in terms of noise and other disturbance arising from cars accessing the site and activity within the development."