Outline planning permission for nine new homes on land off Edmondsham Road has been refused by Dorset Council.

The proposed development lies within the South East Dorset Green Belt within which no new development shall be permitted unless there are very special circumstances.

In refusing the consent for the access arrangements, Dorset Council said it is considered that a proposal of this nature, outside the designated urban area for Verwood, would result in harm to the open character of the countryside and the Green Belt.

This comes despite 187 new homes currently being built on the opposite side of Edmondsham Road, and 43 adjacent to the proposed site in Westworth Way.

The Council added that the impact on existing pedestrian routes close to the site is poorly considered, and insufficient detail had been provided to assess the risk arising from the proposed development both to potential occupiers and to surrounding properties from surface water run-off.

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