A FINAL decision is expected on plans for 90 homes on the former Swanage Grammar School site off Northbrook Road.

Residential development on the site has been discussed for more than a decade.

The latest application, from Barratt David Wilson Homes, includes the demolition of the former school buildings, which has raised concerns for some neighbouring properties, including adjoining schools.

Dorset Council’s area planning committee will decide the application on Wednesday, April 6.

There have been more than 40 objections to the application with an online petition which attracted 1,109 signatures and raised concerns about the impact of construction works on the health of children at the neighbouring school and pre-school and safeguarding issues because of potential overlooking of the school site.

A Dorset Council report says that if the proposal is accepted a site management plan will have to be agreed which should minimise the impact on the next-door schools with acoustic fencing put in place and homes in the northern section of the site to be developed in the winter months to minimise dust. A briefing will also be arranged for school staff and parents at the start of construction work with a mobile phone number offered to reach the site manage in the event of problems.

A 1.8m close board fence is being proposed to address any potential overlooking of the neighbouring St Mary’s school and Little Birds pre-school.

The developers say the 2-hectare site, which was last used as a field study centre, would have 30 affordable homes, mostly two or three-bed, with 60 market homes comprising of 20 two-bed, 26 three-bed and 14 four-bed, or larger. Local materials are being proposed to reflect the character of the area.

Most of the homes proposed will be 2-storey with some at 2.5.

The developers estimate that the site could accommodate 190 car parking spaces with a new road access off Northbrook Road and a pedestrian access closer to the town.

St Mary’s School which sits alongside the site, had asked for reassurance about overlooking from the new homes when the application was first submitted last year. It says that it had been planning a wildlife area next to the development plot.

The former Swanage Grammar School buildings were in use between 1929 and 1974, and have been vacant since 2002.

The site is approximately rectangular, with Swanage Cricket Club on its eastern boundary and Day’s Park to the south.

Swanage Town Council says it has some concerns about the site access and has asked for a footpath connection to Days Park to be put in place should the development be agreed.