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A CRISIS that threatened to bring Dorset's construction industry to a grinding halt looks to have been averted.

Developers, architects and planning consultants all feared they would be put out of business after councils pulled the plug on all new residential planning applications, citing English Nature guidance as the reason.

Poole, East Dorset and Christchurch councils all temporarily stopped approving new applications, while Bournemouth said it was "considering the implications".

Their decision stemmed from the belief that English Nature would object to any development within 5km of protected heathland - a stance that would virtually rule out any further development in these areas.

But following several days of discussions between councils and English Nature, the embargo has been lifted.

English Nature issued a new guidance note agreeing that councils could continue dealing with planning applications while a "mitigation strategy" is worked out.

The agreement has been welcomed by those working in the building industry but many people are still confused as to the current situation.

James Roberts, of architectural firm Anders, Roberts and Associates, said: "It has been the most frightening thing I have ever had to deal with in my entire professional life.

"There is still mass confusion. Our phone has been ringing non-stop with people fearing their companies were about to go bust."

Businessman Richard Carr, who had nine developments temporarily halted by the embargo, called the situation "an unbelievable muddle."

Jim White, team manager for English Nature Dorset said: "There was no need to rush to stop everything in their tracks. Poole rather did that."

He added: "There is now a general acceptance that a mitigation strategy to apply across all of East Dorset is needed. We want to see a finished article by the end of November but what we would certainly need before then is a clear undertaking from each local authority that this is being worked on."

The mitigation strategy is likely to levy a "fresh air" charge on developments within 5km of heathland, with the extra money used to pay for wardens or new open space for recreation.

In defence, Peter Watson, head of planning at Poole, said: "We feel we acted appropriately based on the assessment of the situation at the time."

11:17am Tuesday 19th September 2006

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