RESIDENTS have questioned the inclusion of an office space in a controversial housing development in Wimborne.

Plans for more than 200 homes on land next to Julians Road, Cowgrove Road and the River Stour from Wyatt Homes are still under consideration by East Dorset District Council's (EDDC) planning department more than two years after the initial designs were submitted.

The major scheme includes an office and cafe building on the site, which has come underfire from members of the community who claim this has been included without a proper consultation.

John Remnant, who lives in Cuthbury Gardens, has followed the development closely and extensively examined the plans from the outset.

He claims representatives told members of the public at an exhibition event that the office space would provide small units for a number of different businesses.

However, a detailed look at the submitted plans show what appears to be a large single office space, with features including three meeting rooms and a managing director's office.

Mr Remnant, who has submitted a number of FOI requests to the council about discussions on the plans, says he believes Wyatt Homes are building a new office for themselves.

He suggests the floor plans for the proposed office would be able to cater for a similar number of staff as at their current base in Poole.

"The office just shouldn't be there," he said.

"It is green belt land. The core strategy says boundaries can only be moved if there is a need for housing to be built.

"I'm very surprised none of the records of discussions between Wyatt Homes and the district council about the proposed office building can be found."

Mr Remnant said he was considering going to the Information Commissioner's Office and even looking into legal action.

The Daily Echo approached Wyatt Homes to discuss the proposed office, but at the time of going to print no response had been received.

Jane Lynch, head of planning at EDDC said: “An office was not a requirement of the allocation policy but is not, in principle, in conflict with it.

"How the proposed office building would be used in terms of a specific business, or businesses, or the number of occupiers are not matters which can be taken into consideration when assessing the acceptability of this element.

“The key issues will be whether the site can accommodate a building of the size proposed and whether its use as offices is appropriate in this location and compatible with its neighbours."