PLANS for a 30-home development in Milborne St Andrew have been refused due to concerns about the “ghetto-style” lay-out of affordable housing.

Members of North Dorset District Council’s planning committee unanimously opposed the scheme put forward by Wyatt Homes after criticising the developer for not spreading the affordable homes across the site despite council planners recommending that the proposal be approved.

The plans had attracted criticism from residents and Milborne St Andrew Parish Council over fears about the potential for development of the land off Huntley Down could have on flooding in the area and its density.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the planning committee, councillors unanimously rejected the application due to concerns about the proposed lay-out of the site.

Its chairman, Cllr Bill Batty-Smith, said: “We did not agree with the lay out of the site and the way the affordable homes have been clumped together in the plans that were submitted

“Our policy requires that affordable housing must be spread out and this went completely against that.

“These need to be mixed in with the rest of the homes and the developer had not done this.”

The proposal included the provision of 12 affordable homes – 40 per cent of the total number of houses – which the report said was “a significant benefit” and would “help to address local housing needs”.

It had attracted criticism from residents and the parish council but was supported by Milborne St Andrew’s Neighbourhood Planning Group which had put forward the site last year as one which could be suitable although it also raised concerns with the “ghetto-style” affordable housing lay-out.

A previous application to build 19 homes on the land was refused in 1999.

However, the most recent scheme was supported by council planners who said: “No particular issue raised either with this site or the proposed residential development that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of delivering 12 affordable housing dwellings and 18 open market dwellings.

“No particular policies have been identified that would restrict development of this site for residential purposes.”