Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs David Taylor and Sherry Jespersen.

Proposed by Cllr Vitali, seconded by Cllr Belinda Ridout.

Cllr Cooper elected Vice Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or non-registerable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th July 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th July 2025 were confirmed and signed.

Members of the public wishing to speak to the Committee on a planning application should notify the Democratic Services Officer listed on the front of this agenda. This must be done no later than two clear working days before the meeting. Please refer to the Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee.  Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee

The deadline for notifying a request to speak is 8.30am on 10^th October 2025.

Representations by the public to the Committee on individual planning applications are detailed below. There were no questions, petitions or deputations received on other items on this occasion.

Part of the existing modular building to be demolished and proposed to be used as playground is built on Dorset Council-owned land.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members. The application was for a single storey extension and to demolish a building on site. The existing temporary mobile classroom, now used by Little Birch Pre-school was granted temporary permission in 1997 and later extended at the front and side. The proposed site was contained in the existing development where it had been considered to be sufficient space to allow further extension to the main building. There were no relevant planning constraints for the development, and the application had been brought to the Committee due to Tenure of the land of which the modular pre-school building had been erected.   A sheltered structure had been added to the rear of the pre-school building on land owned by Dorset Council. Therefore, any structure built or demolished on Dorset Council owned land must be considered at the Planning Committee. It was officers’ opinion that the proposal offered efficient use of the space, in a moderate sized extension, that ensured no net loss of playground space and far greater energy efficiency. There would be no increased risk of flooding to the site and no demonstrable risk to highway safety and no changes to existing access or parking arrangements.

There was no Public Participation.

Members questions and comments

·       Cllr Cooper commented that the application was in his ward and that it would be a good improvement and he agreed with the proposal.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, a motion to APPROVE the officer’s recommendation to GRANT planning permission as recommended, was proposed by Cllr Les Fry, and seconded by Cllr Carole Jones.

Decision: To grant planning permission subject to conditions set out in the appendix of the minutes.

Erect 33 No. dwellings with garages and parking. Form vehicular access from Salisbury Road, associated infrastructure and public open space. Carry out site preparation and ancillary works.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members. Photographs of location plan, and the access arrangement going north of the local centre of Blandford forum local parklands development was shown. The application was to erect 33 dwellings with garages and parking and form a vehicle access from Salisbury Road, associated infrastructure and public open space. The proposal was an extension of the 490 houses that had been previously approved. None of the trees that were due to be removed were above category c and low grade and would be replaced. An update sheet of minor tweaks modifying condition 15 and adding two conditions in consultation with ecologists and Dorset natural environment team was shown to the Committee. Highways recommended a conditional approval. 

Public Participation

Martin Richley spoke against the application and informed that he was a pragmatist, as soon as the land was sold to the developer, he was sure that something would be built here. He and many of the local neighbours, were hoping for a development more in line with the two houses either side of the site entrance, or possibly a development along the lines of a community house trust of homes for local people, rather than what was currently proposed.  He produced a letter of objection to the current proposal, based on what he believe were reasonable grounds, however, he felt that the objections/comments were not worth the paper they were written on, as they seemed to be ignored by the system, especially as there were rarely, if any, feedback or changes made based on the objections/comments. He requested that the committee, as they consider the application, to reflect on two things. When this plot of land was sold, a mature orchard of some 30 trees, plus hedging and other mature trees were grubbed out over a weekend, before an emergency tree preservation order was obtained.  He asked if the promised planting regime of this application would replace not only the trees and shrubs that will need to be removed for this development, but also take into account the orchard and other trees that were cut down before this application was submitted and how this would be monitored and enforced? Secondly, he believed that it was both the governments and this council’s aim to produce integrated housing developments.  The layout of this site had all the social and affordable housing sited together at the entrance, close to the main road, while all the commercial housing was set at the back of the development?  This was not integration, but segregation, therefore should the current design layout be amended to provide an integrated development?

Tim Hoskinton Director of Wyatt Homes

Mr Hoskinton informed that Wyatt Homes was a Dorset based house builder with a track record of delivering high quality community purpose developments which stand the test of time. He was proud of the places that Wyatt homes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.