Developer's bid to build fewer affordable homes refused

The site in Weymouth has planning permission for 500 homes

A developer has been denied permission to cut the number of affordable homes it needs to build.

Betterment Properties, which is responsible for Curtis Fields in Weymouth, Dorset, wanted to reduce the number of the affordable homes due to be built across three phases from 140 to 122.

It argued that supplying 140, out of a total of 500 properties, would cut its profit to an unreasonable level.

The development was allowed after a Supreme Court ruling in 2014 quashed the site’s designation as a town green.

Betterment said it faces previously unforeseen costs of £20m, partly due to increasing material and labour expenses.

Dorset Council’s western and southern area planning committee unanimously rejected the change at a meeting on Thursday.

Councillors were told the developer could appeal, which might result in costs being awarded against the authority if it is found to have acted unreasonably.

Betterment agreed in 2016 to provide the affordable homes, along with more than £4.5m in contributions for recreation, ecology and schools in the area.