Green light for park homes scheme for over-50s

EXTRA park homes are to be allowed on a Chickerell site, together with a new road access.

The Montevideo development in Chickerell Road was given permission for ten extra lodge homes in October 2020 – and has now been granted consent for another nine.

Together the two applications will almost double the number of homes on the site – all intended for the over 50s.

Dorset Council officers say the two-bedroom units will contribute towards housing supply needs in the area and should not have an effect on the adjoining Queen Charlotte Nursing Home.

Over the years various development applications have been approved for the site, including to change the use of holiday caravans to residential park homes and to increase the overall numbers on the site, expanding into what was previously open land.

The original access to the site is shared with the nursing home although during the building of the bases for the 10 homes already with planning consent, a new access was created to the north of the shared road which the site owner now wants to retain as a permanent access to serve the 19 most recently approved properties.

Part of the new consent include providing each unit with an electric vehicle charge point and a secure, shared, cycle store.

New trees and hedging will also be added as the new homes are developed with the developers saying care will be taken over Great Crested Newts, a protected species, which are known to live in the area. Before work begins an additional consent will need to be agreed with Natural England to protect the amphibians.

Agents for the site owner say the site is sustainable with a bus route and shops nearby and claim: “the proposed park home will address the need to provide single-storey affordable homes for older people looking for somewhere to retire with single floor living, low maintenance required, a small garden, and in a friendly mutually supportive community. This in turn will release larger homes in the area for occupation by younger growing families, who in turn will release starter homes.”