Local 'affordable' homes agreed for Sixpenny Handley

Eleven affordable homes on an edge of village site at Sixpenny Handley have been approved after an hour’s discussion at a planning committee.

Concerns were raised over the effect the development could have on the Cranborne Chase ‘Dark Skies’ listing by Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants councillor Sherry Jespersen.

But after being told that any streetlighting would be directional and on a timer the committee unanimously accepted the plans.

The agreement will see the homes built on land south of Common Road, close to the village centre. The site lies just outside the village’s development boundary but is adjacent to the existing settlement and includes agricultural land and an area of existing hardstanding currently used for parking for Common Road residents and for the school.

All the homes will be for affordable rent through the Sixpenny Handley Community Land Trust, with restrictions in place to ensure they remain available for local people in perpetuity. Planning officers say this would help support the long-term sustainability of the village.

The development includes five one-bedroom homes, three two-bedroom homes, two three-bedroom homes and one four-bedroom property. Dorset Council’s housing enabling team has said the mix reflects an identified local need for affordable rented accommodation.

Despite being located within the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, planning officers recommended approval saying the community benefits outweighed an “harm”,

The development will use the existing road access with improvements onto the B3081 and will provide a total of 59 parking spaces – 24 spaces for the existing dwellings on the northern side of Common Road, 14 spaces for staff of the local primary school, and 21 spaces for the residents of the new development.

The scheme proposes a housing mix of: 5 x 1 bedroom properties; 3 x 2 bedroom properties; 2 x 3 bedroom properties and 1 x 4 bedroom home.

The drainage strategy for the site has been designed to accommodate a 1 in 100-year flood, plus 45% climate change uplift.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.