PLANS for the next stage of a major development in Wimborne will be decided on Wednesday.

East Dorset District Council's planning committee will discuss the next phase of a scheme to build 318 homes in total on a site off Cranborne Road.

The application before them outlines the third application for the site.

Permission has already been granted for infrastructure including engineering works and a main road through the development, as well as the first 64 homes.

As reported by the Daily Echo, an application for a first school as part of the new neighbourhood was also recently approved by Dorset County Council members.

As part of this application, the design of the 254 homes, access arrangements for the housing and school and landscape is part of the proposal.

The homes will be two-storey houses with some having rooms in the roof. Four three storey blocks of flats made up of one and two bedrooms are also included.

Thirty four per cent of the proposed properties will be affordable.

A report to the planning committee says one letter has been received from a local resident imploring the council to "try harder".

It says: "There is no sense of place and no reflection of the town to which this is being added. This development will be the 2018 version of the 1960s/1970s poor design that is both Allenview Road and its surroundings and Merley on the south side of Wimborne."

East Dorset Environment Group has also objected to the landscape planting because it does not comprise indigenous species.

Concern was also raised about the impact on the watercourse through the site, which is a tributary of the River Allen.

Provision has been made for 647 car parking spaces on site - with each housing unit served by two or more off street spaces, with most including a garage.

The report also says there are not considered to be any matters which would warrant a refusal of planning permission.

The application is recommended for approval.