49-home residential development at Land Off Birchdale Road, Colehill Wimborne

The site and surroundings

The 5.5-hectare undeveloped site lies east of Wimborne, slopes southwards, is surrounded mainly by housing and sits within the Green Belt.

“Description of site 4.1 The application site is located to the east of Wimborne. It is undeveloped and surrounded by late twentieth century housing to the north, west and part of the south of the site. The remainder of the southern boundary is defined by the dismantled former railway line. To the east of the site, Beaucroft lane comprises lower density detached residential development, largely dating to the early-mid 20 th century.”

“This sits outside the boundary for the planning application. Access to the site is via Green Close Lane which is a private road and has a secured gate entrance. The site is not allocated for development in the adopted Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan (2014), falls outside the ‘Main Urban Area’ defined in local plan policies maps. It is also defined as part of the South East Dorset Green Belt.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

A 2024 application for up to 55 homes was refused, and an appeal was withdrawn after the council reported more than five years’ housing supply.

“P/OUT/2024/00563 REF 06/06/2024 Outline planning application for a proposed residential development of up to 55 dwellings together with open space and associated works (all matters reserved save for means of access) The 2024 application, ref P/OUT/2024/00563 was for largely the same development as is now proposed, albeit without the option given in this application for a reduced scheme of 49 units and is therefore of relevance to the current application.”

“An appeal against the refusal of permission was submitted but subsequently withdrawn following the publication of the Council’s Housing Land Supply Annual Position Statement in October 2024, which confirmed that, at the time, the Council could demonstrate a deliverable supply of housing sites equivalent to 5.02 years.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the site was considered Grey Belt and sustainable, with benefits outweighing biodiversity loss and heritage harm.

“Areas at risk of flooding or coastal change. It is therefore necessary to consider whether the policies in respect of each of these would provide a strong reason for the refusal of planning permission. As set out above, the strategy defined through the applicant’s most recent amendments to the application, defining a bespoke HIP within the site are considered sufficient to mitigate the likely significant effects of the development on the Dorset Heathlands.”

“Furthermore the most recent comments from the Natural Environment Team acknowledge that, although there would be a net loss of biodiversity on site due to the development, the areas of priority habitat would be avoided. In view of this, officers do not consider that this would provide a strong reason for refusing the development.”

Officer report

What people objected to

There were 432 objections, focused on green belt loss, settlement merging, biodiversity, flooding, highway safety, infrastructure and harm to local character.

“Principle of development, location and Green Belt • Loss of Green Belt Land, urban sprawl, loss of the last green space between Colehill and Wimborne, threatening their individual identities, and possible precedent for further green belt loss. Planning permission having previously been refused for the same reasons. • The site should not be considered as grey belt. • Very special or exceptional circumstances for the loss of green belt have not been demonstrated.”

“Utilities • Concern over water supply availability • Concern over sewer capacity • Additional pressure on electricity and gas supplies. Biodiversity • The site is of high biodiversity value which has developed due to the lack of public access to the site – presence of a variety priority habitats and protected species.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Residents spoke against the application, the agent spoke in support, and town council representatives and ward members spoke in opposition.

What members debated

Members disagreed with the Grey Belt assessment, considering the site important to the separation of Wimborne and Colehill and the proposal urban sprawl.

“Concerns were raised by members primarily about the classification of the site as grey belt land. Members noted that they had the opportunity to assess whether the site was grey belt and they did not agree with the officer assessment that the site made a weak contribution to the purposes of the Green Belt.”

“It was proposed by Cllr Flower and seconded by Cllr Brenton that the application be refused, as they considered the application to be inappropriate development in the green belt as it would erode the separate identity of the individual identities of Wimborne and Colehill and result in a reduction in the open area around the…”

Minutes