DEVELOPERS will find out whether it will be third time lucky for their controversial new church and care home plan.
More than 550 residents objected to developer and landowner Nick Aris’ attempts to build a new church and 60-bed care homes on Blackfield Farm in West Moors.
There have already been two failed attempts to build on the 1.9ha land off Blackfield Lane, including one in 2019 and another in 2021.
Councillors on Dorset Council’s planning committee will have the final say on Wednesday, March 13.
Officers have given them two options: delegate powers to the head of planning to grant permission with legal agreements or refuse it if the legal agreements are not completed within a decided timeframe.
Hundreds of objections have targeted concerns over pollution, loss of green land, traffic congestion and straining of the town’s infrastructure.
Key objectors include Dorset Wildlife Trust, West Moors Town Council and the East Dorset Environment Partnership.
A spokeswoman for the town council confirmed somebody will be there to argue against the application and “vigorously reiterate” their objection.
She said: “West Moors Town Council has objected to this development from the start and we maintain our objection.”
The town council previously said an additional care home would “likely to put pressure on the medical service within West Moors, which is anecdotally at capacity”.
It also said: “There should be an attempt to minimise congestion, traffic/noise and air pollution, and provide a sustainable transport infrastructure, which is not evident within this application.”
However, Dorset Council’s case officer Naomi Shinkins believes the application “would not have an adverse impact on road safety” and is satisfied the developers “would provide appropriate mitigation for any impact on biodiversity”.
In their planning statement, the developers said their proposal “would make efficient use of land, benefitting the community and contributing an important community asset and service”.
Revised plans were submitted in November 2023 reducing the scale of the care home from 80 beds to 60 beds.
In its concluding planning statement, developers said: “The design has been carefully conceived to avoid harm to neighbour amenity and ensure that a comfortable relationship subsists.”
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