CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 61 homes in Marnhull have been recommended for approval.

Members of North Dorset District Council’s planning committee will consider the application to develop land off Burton Street on Tuesday after the parish council lodged an objection to the scheme.

Concerns have been raised about the “hazardous” access to the site, the lack of facilities in the area and there being too many ‘affordable’ homes planned for the village.

The application proposes that 40 per cent of the development’s homes would be sold at a cheaper rate – meeting the council’s target for larger housing schemes.

In a letter, the parish council said: “The need in Marnhull for affordable, as established by the north Dorset housing register, is for 34 dwellings.

“There are consents for five affordable dwellings reducing the net need to 29 dwellings.

“The proposed developments combined are far in excess of what is required to deliver the local needs of the village and surrounding rural areas.

“Delivering more houses than needed would exacerbate traffic and associated problems with no benefits.”

Alongside the council’s objection, 51 letters have been submitted, all of which oppose the application.

Despite this, members of the district council’s planning committee will be recommended to grant planning permission when they consider the scheme on Tuesday (March 26).

In her report to the committee, planning officer Penny Canning says: “Marnhull is identified in the Local Plan as an appropriate location to absorb additional housing to meet local needs and is most well-served of the 18 larger villages identified.

“The proposed development is of a scale greater than would have been envisage for a village location.

“However, as a result of the existing shortfall in housing supply within North Dorset, the policy cannot be given full statutory weight.”

If approved on Tuesday, the developer has proposed it will make financial contributions to the community totalling more than £15,000.

The biggest portion of this would be £6,000 to increase capacity at St Gregory’s Primary and Gillingham Secondary schools.