PLANS to build nine homes in a north Dorset village will “ruin the jewel in the area’s crown”, according to objectors.

Eighty-five letters of objection have been submitted in response to the application to develop land next to Cleff House in Iwerne Minster.

But despite this, members of the northern area planning committee for Dorset Council are being recommended to approve the scheme.

Submitted by Mr and Mrs Croney at the end of last year, the application seeks permission for four ‘affordable’ homes, two ‘easy access’ retirement bungalows, three four-bedroom homes and new allotments.

Its access would be on the existing footpath off Dunn’s Lane, a proposal which has prompted concern.

Among the objectors is Iwerne Minster Village Club which said the changes to the footpath would expose the club to “unsavoury characters”.

“This application will ruin the ‘jewel in north Dorset’s crown’,” its honorary secretary, Mervyn Marsh said.

“It will only lead to more housing being added to the plan as time goes by and fill the beautiful valley with more unsightly housing.

“There are newly-built houses in the village that are rented because they cannot find buyers for them. Why build more?”

The two letters of support welcome the provision of affordable homes and the proposed allotments.

A report by council planning officer Hannah Smith recommends that the application be approved when it is considered by councillors on Tuesday (May 28), despite the development being outside the village settlement boundary.

“Weighed in the balance, the identified benefits of the scheme, when taken as a whole, outweigh the minor identified harm to localised views,” she says.

Her report recommends that planning permission be granted subject to the completion of a legal agreement including the provision of affordable homes, orchard planting and allotments.

Members of the northern area planning committee will consider the scheme at their first meeting on May 28.