COUNCILLORS have granted planning permission for plans to build more than 200 homes in Wimborne, despite admitting having “reservations” about the scheme.

Members of East Dorset District Council’s planning committee voted to approve Wyatt Homes’ proposals on Wednesday, saying they thought it would be “very difficult” to refuse it.

Concerns were raised about the potential for flooding on the land next to Julians Road, Cowgrove Road and the River Stour as well as the need for an office block but councillors said they felt that if it was rejected then it would be overturned at an appeal.

First submitted in early 2016, the application sought permission for 203 homes, an office block, café and five hectares of parkland.

Provision is also made for land for the future expansion of Victoria Hospital and a £1 million contribution towards school improvements.

About one-third of the homes on the site will be ‘affordable’ – less than the council’s 50 per cent target but what a report to the planning committee described as “a valuable contribution”.

Speaking on Wednesday, Cllr Derek Burt said that although he disapproved of aspects of the development, he felt that by allocating the site in its core strategy the council it would be difficult to refuse

“The principle of development on this site has been agreed and that goes back to the core strategy and that sets out the broad brush detail of what can happen on this site,” he said.

“So, you now get to the point where the only thing we can really consider is the detail.”

He raised concerns about the potential for flooding on the site and questioned the need for a café and office block but said he thought it would be “very difficult” for the council to defend a decision to refuse the application if it was appealed.

His fears were echoed by Cllr Barbara Manuel, who said that the risk of flooding was “too high” and that the commercial facilities were “quite out of keeping” with the area.

Cllr David Morgan called for the application to be deferred for further consultation, saying that it did not comply with the council policy.

However, a move to grant planning permission for the development was backed by a majority of the committee.