Housing and school plans for Colehill in Wimborne approved

Dorset County Council’s Eastern Area Planning Committee members voted 9-0 in favour of the dwellings and first school next to green belt land in Colehill.

The 4.7-hectare site on the land at Leigh Road will also include associated roads, footways, amenity areas, parking, and a greenspace area.

Case officer Naomi Shinkins told the committee that the new homes will comprise of a mix of approximately 23 different house types, including 19 four-bedroom properties described as a “visually interesting mix of architectural vernaculars”.

• Read more: Council approves Wyatt Homes’ plan for Wimborne

The application was referred to the committee by the due to objections from the Parish Council and Ward Members after recent changes to flood zone areas.

At the time of submission in 2017, the land was adjudged to have been within a Flood Zone 1 by the Environment Agency (EA) – meaning that the area had less than 0.1 per cent chance of flooding in any year.

However, in their consultation response submitted in January 2021 the EA confirmed that the application site was partially within Flood Zone 2. This meant that the land was much more vulnerable to flooding than first thought.

Cllr Maria Rowe was greatly concerned by the findings. She told the committee: “It is clear the UK is experiencing warmer summers and wetter winters. In December 2015, parts of the UK were devastated by record breaking levels of rainfall and thousands of homes were flooded.

“Mitigation measures are proposed but I believe we should not even consider building here and we need to keep natural flood plains.”

An overview of plans for the site near Leigh Road, Colehill

She added that building on flood plain land would be “absolutely bonkers”.

In response, Ms Shinkins said that the EA is happy with the measures in place in and that they provide a “robust approach” to any worst case scenario.

Cllr Shane Bartlett expressed concern for several elm trees that would be felled by the proposals. He said: “Little wonder the public get a little sceptical. All too often we get rid of old trees.

“It’s important that we do our upmost to preserve these. Is this possible or is it done deal?”

Ms Shinkins responded by ensuring that the trees were in poor condition and that 30 new trees would be planted around the site.

• Read more: Final plans for homes off Leigh Road are submitted

Nick Guildford, planning manager for the applicants Wyatt Homes, said in a written statement: “The Leigh Road site is an essential part of the council’s five-year housing land supply and will bring forward the final piece of the Council’s South of Leigh Road New Neighbourhood Allocation.

“Over 100 people, the majority currently living within 20 miles, have already registered an interest in purchasing.

“The proposed sustainable drainage scheme has been designed to take into account future climate change. The Environment Agency has also raised no objections noting the scheme has applied a robust precautionary approach to dealing with flood risk.”

All nine councillors voted in favour of the development, some with a “heavy heart”, subject to securing several grants.