20A School Hill Chickerell DT3 4BA

1. 1.The proposal fails to achieve good design. It does not reflect local character in terms of scale, and the excessive density would lead to a clear overdevelopment of the site with cramped plots and footprints. The layout is poorly conceived, with no thought given to bin storage. The proposal is therefore in conflict with policies ENV10, ENV11, ENV12 and ENV15 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015); Policy CNP11 of the Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan (2021); and policies DP3, N2, L2 and L3 of the NPPF (2026).
2. 2.The application fails to demonstrate an appropriate strategy for surface water drainage, failing to comply with the drainage hierarchy. The proposal is therefore in conflict with Policy ENV5 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015); Policy CNP11 of the Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan (2021); policies F7 and F8 of the NPPF (2026); and ref. ID: 7-056-20220825 of the Planning Practice Guidance.
3. 3.The overlarge scale of development, poor layout and design mean that several of the proposed dwellings would experience poor relationships with neighbouring properties through overlooking and an overbearing presence. The proposal is therefore in conflict with Policy ENV16 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and Policy L2:1.d.ii of the NPPF (2026).
4. 4.None of the units meet the requirements of the Nationally Described Space Standards, meaning that future occupiers would endure cramped living conditions. The north-facing garden serving plot 7 would be hemmed in by neighbouring buildings, resulting in a poor external amenity space, likely to be cast in shade for most of the day. The proposal therefore fails to achieve acceptable living conditions for future occupiers, in conflict with Policy ENV16 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and Policy L2:1.d.ii of the NPPF (2026).
5. 5.Substantial information is lacking from the application to allow the Local Highway Authority to assess the geometries of footways, the interaction of the proposed footway with adjacent private and the proposed carriageway width of School Hill as a result of the works. For a new development access and accompanying footway/cycleway works on the highway, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit of the proposals should have been supplied. No details have been provided to clarify allocated and unallocated spaces, EV parking and refuse collection. No internal footway is shown on the private internal driveway, meaning that pedestrians would have to traverse this road to access the pavement on School Hill. The applicant has failed to demonstrate a safe proposal, and the application is in conflict with Policy COM7 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015), as well as policies DM1:2, TR6:4 and L2:1.d.ii of the NPPF (2026).
6. 6.The submitted ecological information fails to address concerns in terms of the lack of survey work, retention of habitat and impacts on reptiles, amphibians and bats. Adopting the precautionary principle, adverse harm to biodiversity cannot be ruled out. The proposal is therefore in conflict with Policy ENV2 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015); Policy CNP12 of the Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan (2021); and policies DM1:2 and N2 (paragraphs 1 and 2) of the NPPF (2026).
7. 7.The site falls within 5km of Chesil and the Fleet Special Area of Conservation, where new overnight accommodation is required to mitigate its recreational impacts through a financial contribution. The applicant has failed to enter into a planning obligation to secure a contribution, such that mitigation has not been provided. The proposal is therefore in conflict with Policy ENV2 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015); Policy CNP9 of the Chickerell Neighbourhood Plan (2021); and Policy N6:1.a of the NPPF (2026).
8. 8.As the application site forms part of the CHIC2 local plan allocation and it is not CIL chargeable, a planning obligation should have been entered into to ensure the development’s infrastructural impacts are mitigated. The applicant has not entered into a planning obligation to secure financial contributions towards a range of infrastructure types, and the proposal in conflict with Policy COM1 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and Policy HC3:3 of the NPPF (2026).

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

DT3 4BA

Application type

Outline Planning Permission

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Chickerell

Date validated

15 June 2026

Agent address

Doe Cottage Cheselbourne Dorchester Dorset DT2 7NS

Documents

34