OUTLINE proposals to build up to 38 homes on grassland alongside the A35 have been granted formal planning permission– four years after the application was first submitted.

Hoburne Developments put forward its scheme for ‘phase nine’ of its Hoburne Farm Estate development in West Highcliffe in January 2017.

This submission was made to the now extinct Christchurch Borough Council.

It was given the green light at a borough council planning meeting in July 2017, however, an official decision notice was never published. BCP Council planners have now confirmed the application, which only considered access to the site, had been approved earlier this month.

There is no officer’s report from 2017 on the planning portal detailing the assessment of the scheme, however, a decision notice has been uploaded.

The site lies to the north east of the previous phase of the scheme.

The initial layout proposed in the outline details, which will require subsequent reserved matters planning application, incorporates a large area of green space as a park and play area.

In its application, Hoburne Developments said: “The site location and characteristics offer an excellent opportunity to deliver a new high quality residential community and family homes to meet local demands and broaden the range and quality of housing in the area.”

The approved access for the site will be from Cornflower Drive.