PLANNING committee councillors in Christchurch have finally approved outline plans for a controversial housing scheme beside the town's railway station.

Despite some town hall members still having major reservations over the application to build over 20 new homes between Christchurch railway station and Clarendon Road, councillors were eventually guided by an independent impartial report, urging them to approve the plans or face hefty costs.

At the previous meeting of the planning control committee in October, officers had recommended the 17 dwellings and seven flats for recommendation but due to a poor access road into the site and worries over noise and vibrations from the railway, councillors disagreed, refusing to approve the scheme.

Consultants from independent planners Terence O'Rourke concluded the committee's wish to refuse the plan was not reasonable in light of certain issues the application raised and the council were at significant risk of having costs awarded against it' if they refused the application once more.

According to the review, if the planning committee chose to refuse the application in light of the new impartial evidence, the applicant, Network Rail would be able to launch a strong and successful case in appeal.

Terence O'Rourke's consultants also dismissed concerns over the mix of affordable housing, saying the plan fulfilled the need within the borough and councillors had no grounds to refuse the application on this basis.

David Jobbins the borough planning chief, who called for the independent review, advised the committee to consider whether this particular application was acceptable, telling them they should disregard what could happen in the future.

But concerned Cllr Ray Nottage, likened the architectural design to seasoning in soup'.

He said: "What is good for some future residents, may not be so good for others."

Chairman, Cllr David Jones said: "We can only deal with what has been submitted here."