SCALED-BACK proposals to build 127 homes on a disused plot of land in Poole have been recommended for approval by the borough council’s planning committee.

Councillors rejected a 138-home scheme in July due to concerns it was overdevelopment of the site adjacent to the Sopers Lane Siemens factory, despite it being backed by council planning officers.

It was described as “a cramped version of a bad 1960s estate” and Cllr John Rampton warned that it could become “a breeding ground for anti-social behaviour”.

Following the decision of the council’s planning committee, East Street Developments has reduced the proposed number of homes to 95 flats and 32 houses.

And it says that it considers that “an agreed position has now been reached”.

Development of the Sopers Lane site is included in the council’s newly-adopted local plan which outlines how the council aims to meet its target of building more than 14,000 homes over the next 15 years.

A planning statement submitted with the application says: “Following the refusal of planning permission, the applicant has actively engaged with the council over amendments to the scheme in response to the concerns of the planning committee.”

Eight of the homes provided within the development would be classed as ‘affordable’ and provision of these would be “jointly funded” by the council.

The application has attracted several objections a 29-signature petition raising concerns about the proposed scheme’s potential to “exacerbate” traffic on Sopers Lane and calling for the access to instead be via Broadstone Way.

Opposition has also been lodged by the Society for Poole which, despite supporting the design, said that it would “overload critical infrastructure” and criticised the “insufficient” affordable housing contribution.

Despite their concerns, planning officers have again recommended that permission be granted by the committee.

In a report, published ahead of its meeting on Thursday, planning officer Helen Harris said: “The principle of residential development in this location is supported by the recently adopted Poole local plan.

“Issues raised previously, and set out in the reasons for refusal, have been addressed and it is considered, following analysis, that with adequate controls and further details secured by planning conditions, an acceptable development can be achieved to bring the site back into use for housing.”