Chewton Farm flats approved

The scheme is similar to a development already approved for the adjacent site.

The existing large home, No22, will be demolished to make way for the flats and parking.

An adjacent site already has a similar scheme approved with planning officers saying although the new building will be larger than existing property the development is considered ‘acceptable.’

Twenty parking spaces will be provided, three on the surface, the rest underground together with cycle parking.

Read more: Poole developer outlines intentions for Chewton Farm Road site

No affordable homes are proposed for the site, the developer claiming it would not be financially viable if they had to be included.

The BCP Council planning committee meeting on Thursday heard that two mature oak trees will remain in place on the boundary with additional tree planting planned as part of the development.

Objector Peter Watson-Lee told the BCP planning committee that the application offered few advantages with flats priced at £430,000 and were likely to be occupied by retirees to the area or as second homes.

He said the downside would be the destruction of a good-quality family home and a detrimental effect on the street scene: “The size and mass of this development is totally at odds with the character of this area,” he said…“Don’t say you have got no option…you can refuse it,” he said.

Read more: Highcliffe Residents' Association critical of recent planning decisions

Neighbour Mr Gareth Williams said that some of the information about the effect on homes was inaccurate and said the predicted loss of privacy and loss of light was unacceptable with the parking arrangements likely to generate extra noise.

Objections on the grounds of traffic and overdevelopment had also been raised by the Highcliffe and Walkford parish council.

Developer Richard Carr said the proposals would offer the opportunity for new homes with the development appearing as if it were one substantial home, in keeping with the look of the rest of the area.

Ward councillor Nigel Brooks said the scheme would dominate the street scene and had been objected to widely by neighbours, the first scheme only approved by the chairman’s casting vote.

He claimed the new application would be out of keeping with the area, which he described as “semi-rural” and an area of special character which needed to be protected. He said the two schemes together could add 40 vehicles to the area.

Cllr Peter Hall proposed refusing the application which he said was against a number of council policies and was out of keeping with the character of the area.

Cllr Hall’s proposal to refuse was lost 8-5 the committee than approving the application by 8-4 with one abstention.

Illustration – How the proposed development might look. Courtesy Fortitudo Ltd