PROPOSALS for a shepherd's hut holiday home in a Swanage garden have been rejected by council planners.

The application, for 19 Redcliffe Road, was described as being 'out of keeping' with the area.

It had been planned to connect the hut to the mains drainage, electric and water, with associated landscaping.

Applicant Mr George Manning told Dorset Council that the hut would be positioned adjacent to the existing garage mainly for visits by family and friends, although adding: "We request permission to have a change of use to enable us to provide an accommodation service for a maximum of two adults throughout the year Parking is available on the street where no restrictions apply, and during busy high season can be accommodated on current driveway. The proposed siting of the hut is completely shielded from street view by an existing garage and 3 metre high hedgingThe siting of the hut will be over 2 metres from any boundary."

Swanage Town Council raised no objection to the proposal although several neighbours wrote to Dorset Council to give their opinions.

Said one: "I am opposed to this planning application to squeeze a Shepherd's Hut (surely more suited to a rural setting) into a small back garden, adjacent to a house, and encourage infill in a pleasant residential area in North Swanage Due to proximity of the busy road junction and yellow lines to the south, extra vehicles will only inconvenience other residents forcing them to park further up the road and away from their properties. In the holiday season during fine weather, the parking situation becomes acute. This will only add to the problem."

The planning case officer concluded that although the application was in line with some council policies, it was at odds with others, deciding: "The proposed change in use of the land to allow the siting of a shepherd's hut, by virtue of the siting on a prominent corner plot and forward of the established building line along Ulwell Road, is considered to give rise to a development that would appear overly intrusive within the street scene and thereby would be detrimentally out of keeping with the overall character and appearance of the area."