A PLAN to build almost 1,200 homes in and around a village “makes no sense” according to the area’s parish council.

Land around Burton is earmarked for major development in the early stages of Christchurch Borough Council’s local plan.

Members of Burton Parish Council discussed the review and expressed a number of concerns with limited community facilities and employment areas within walking distance.

Planning consultant Jo Witherden met councillors last month and submitted a detailed response outlining the village’s opposition.

In her statement, she says the 1,188 homes set out in and around Burton would increase the parish’s population by around two-thirds.

Ms Witherden’s response to the local plan says: “It makes no sense to plan for such a high level of housing in a village location which has only limited community facilities and no significant employment areas within walking distance or accessible by public transport.”

The parish called for more joint working with neighbouring authorities and service providers to consider “strategic matters”.

Christchurch’s local plan includes provision for 5,270 homes up to 2033, with 665 of these already completed.

Development in the local plan around Burton includes the scheme for Roeshot Hill, which received outline approval last year, and a further 568 homes in an “area of search” across the village.

Ms Witherden adds: “There appears to be no substantive assessment of the potential impact of the scale of development proposed on the historic environment or the character of Burton as a distinct village, separated from both Winkton to the north and the town to the south.”

The response all says Burton Parish Council is “committed” to producing a neighbourhood plan.

Ms Witherden said pursuing this option would be a “proactive way forward” to involve the community of Burton in planning decisions, which directly impact the village.

She added that preparing, examining and adopting the more localised document takes two to three years. If started now the neighbourhood plan could be submitted for examination around the time the borough’s local plan is adopted.

“Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to develop a shared vision for their area,” Ms Witherden said.