RESIDENTS are being “strongly” encouraged to again have their say on the controversial plans to build hundreds of homes on former green belt land in West Parley.
A reserved matters application has been submitted detailing the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping for the future development on the land east of New Road – which is set to see up to 386 new homes, retail units (including a Lidl supermarket), office space, new greenspace, and more built in the coming years.
Having secured approval for the overall project, Bellway Homes has since submitted plans for phase one of the scheme – which details the building of 238 of the 386 dwellings as well as the SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace).
As well as West Parley Parish Council, who have been opposed to the plans since they were first submitted, developers Bellway also encouraged residents to have their say in order to help shape the plans.
Hundreds of residents previously wrote to Dorset Council in objection prior to full approval last year.
Of the 386 homes, 73 have been classed as affordable – with 56 of these planned for phase one of the development. Essentially, 19 per cent of all homes on offer are described as affordable.
Comprised mostly of two-storey builds, it is planned for 115 homes to be two-bedroom, 165 to be three-bedroom, and 41 to be four-bedroom homes. There will also be apartment buildings comprised of either one or two-bedroom flats.
Vehicular access is to be provided via a new link road that will join Christchurch Road and New Road to the south of the existing urban area. This road is also to divert traffic from the busy Parley crossroads.
The reserved matters application has received five comments from residents, all in support of the plans. However, each response is phrased in the exact same manner.
This has fuelled speculation that the comments are disingenuous. One resident on social media said: “Please be mindful of the usual developer tactics to inflate ‘supportive comments’. There are already a number of responses that are word for word copies.
“No locals expect a fair fight anymore when it comes to developments.”
West Parley Parish Council says it is seeking guidance from a planning consultant to help formulate a “robust response to the applications” to be discussed at a meeting on July 20.
A parish council representative also said: “Ferndown does not have enough schools, doctors, dentists, community facilities to cope with the increase to the town’s population from these houses being built.”
Phase two will comprise the remaining 148 dwellings, with a separate reserved matters submission to be submitted at a later stage.
Construction is scheduled to start in autumn this year and phase one is likely to take between four and five years to complete. It is estimated around 50 homes will be constructed each year.
Search P/RES/2022/03505 into the online Dorset Council planning portal for more information.
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