CONTROVERSIAL plans to build dozens of homes in a north Dorset village have been turned down.

London and Wessex Limited applied to develop land off Mill Street in Fontmell Magna into 29 homes at the end of 2017 which it said could be “comfortably accommodated”.

But its scheme attracted strong opposition from people living in the village who warned it could have a “catastrophic” impact and permission has now been refused by Dorset Council.

The application was submitted in December 2017 and plans were amended before the decision made on Tuesday, May 28.

The developer said its proposals for a mix of three and four-bed homes would help boost housing numbers in the area while causing “no harm” to the nearby grade II-listed Glyn Gift cottage.

A statement submitted with the application said: “The applicant has recognised the need to provide a high-quality development which will preserve and enhance the character of the area.

“This quantum of development can be comfortably accommodated on the site without unacceptable harm to local visual amenity.”

But dozens of people living in the village lodged objections. Among them was Fontmell Magna Parish Council.

Its 12-page letter of objection, written by a planning consultant, said the “speculative” application did not accord with council policies.

Lurmer Street residents Terence and Janet O’Meara disputed the position of the developer and said its scheme would be “unsightly”.

“The impact of the construction alone would be catastrophic as the narrow road through the village is not suitable for the large vehicles bringing materials to build these,” they said.

Opposition was also lodged by developer Pennyfarthing Homes which has submitted plans to develop the nearby site south of Home Farm which has been proposed as a suitable site in the neighbourhood plan for the parish.

Their position was backed by Dorset Council planning officer Hamish Laird who said the development would cause “unacceptable harm” to the surrounding landscape.

“Those benefits amount solely to the provision of open market housing in the countryside,” he said.

“In the broadest sense, without provision of affordable housing secured along with other off-site contributions, the benefits of the scheme do not outweigh the identified harm.

“The fact that the neighbourhood plan has allocated other sites to meet the local housing needs also weighs against the proposal.”

The application was refused on Tuesday, May 28.