COUNCILLORS will be asked to review their decision to approve plans for almost 700 homes in Bearwood after being threatened with legal action.

Despite significant opposition to the WH White scheme, BCP Council’s planning committee granted planning permission for the former green belt land off Magna Road in March.

But the application will now be brought back after the council was warned it had not correctly considered the proposals.

Hundreds of people objected to the scheme which would see 695 homes built on 79 acres of former green belt in Knighton.

Bearwood Action Group, raised concerns about the impact the development would have on traffic, saying it was an "unproven assumption" that new residents would not use cars.

Despite this, the council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to approve the scheme in March.

"This is a place where there will be a development at some point, regardless of whether it's this application or another," councillor Toby Johnson said. "Therefore, it's about picking the right one that comes forward. I think this is as good as it gets for a community in this area."

But the committee was warned by former Poole councillor Marion Pope that the application “did not comply” with planning policy due to the use of still designated green belt land for a foul water pumping station.

Legal advice on the issue has since been sought by opponents of the scheme and put to the council.

The council has now accepted this and agreed that the application will be put back before the planning committee for reconsideration.

“The planning application for new homes in Bearwood will be going back for consideration by the planning committee,” a spokesman said.

“It has become apparent that there are a couple of areas of the assessment which officers felt planning committee members needed further clarification on in the interests of openness and transparency in the decision making process.

“This relates to the location of a small water pumping structure, which would serve the housing development.” 

The committee next meets on July 22.