Parish council object to plans for three new homes in Ashley Heath

St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council warned the scheme for 8 Warren Close would ‘fundamentally change the street scene’.

The proposal, by BHE Developments, is for the demolition of an existing chalet bungalow at the site to make space for three detached houses, each of four bedrooms.

The detached homes would be 'externally linked' at the front so that the houses present as a single structure. 

Earlier plans for three detached houses at 8 Warren Close were refused in January 2023 and dismissed at appeal.

Revised design: Proposed rear elevations (Image: Marlow Architects Ltd)

A planning officer considered that the scheme would ‘materially harm the amenities of the occupiers’ of neighbouring properties 7 and 7a.

Darryl Howells Planning Consultancy said in a statement on behalf of the developers: “The revised proposal has been designed to address each of those particular concerns and will now ensure no material harm occurs to neighbouring occupiers.”

The consultancy also described it as a ‘carefully balanced and attractive proposal which will respect the pattern and layout of development in the vicinity and preserve the character, appearance and local distinctiveness of the area’.

But when St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council’s planning committee discussed the revised scheme, members felt it did not mitigate the previous proposal.

The minutes of the committee meeting said: “The PC objects to this application. The overriding street scene in Warren Close is that of large detached dwellings that enjoy a special character setting.

Revised design: Proposed front elevations (Image: Marlow Architects Ltd)

"The proposal would fundamentally change the street scene in a way that would be completely unacceptable.

"The three proposed properties are incongruous to this area. It is on the boundary of the green belt.

"In addition, the limited parking available on the proposed dwellings would result in residents and their visitors needing to park on the road, where there is insufficient space and would create a hazard to other road users.

"Parking on the road is not necessary at the moment because properties have large enough driveways."

The parish council raised an objection to the application, noting it “should be refused”.

Dorset Council is yet to make a decision on the planning application.