Plans for 280 new homes approved

One hundred of the homes - 36% - will be classed as affordable

Plans for 280 new homes in a rural town have been approved and described as “another piece of the jigsaw".

Dorset planners have given a new housing estate, south of Gillingham town centre, the green light.

It is hoped the Ham Farm development, off Shaftesbury Road, will link in with other sites to create a total of 1,000 new homes.

Dorchester councillor Les Fry said the development was welcomed but added it was “disappointing" the plans did not include solar panels and rainwater recovery systems.

It is hoped the Ham Farm development, off Shaftesbury Road, will link in with other sites to create a total of 1,000 new homes

The plans include 90 three-bed homes in a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced, 47 four-bed homes, 24 five-bed homes, 12 two-bed homes apartments and six one-bed apartments.

One hundred of the homes - 36% - will be classed as affordable with half for rent and half shared ownership.

A planning committee heard if Homes England finance was approved, an extra 79 affordable homes could eventually be added across the five phases.

Gillingham councillor Belinda Ridout proposed accepting the 280-home development at the northern area planning committee.

She said the phase was “another piece in the jigsaw” to strategic housing for the area and was being welcomed in and around the town.

“It has been widely consulted on and we have the public behind it,” she said.

Gillingham councillor Belinda Ridout said the phase was “another piece in the jigsaw” to strategic housing for the area

Although Mr Fry said is was "disappointing" not to see solar panels or rainwater recovery systems he accepted residents could retrofit the energy measures, at their own expense, at a later date.

Several recreation areas are proposed in the now approved phase two, while other phrases are expected to include a leisure centre, supermarket and petrol station.

An application for 634 homes, including a primary school, has recently been submitted to the council, with 108 homes already approved to the south of the site and another 152 to the west.

Developers will be expected to make financial contributions to public facilities in the wider areas, including the town library, schools and GP practice.