A VILLAGE centre farm site just a few miles south west of Dorcheter is to be re-developed with 32 homes – with a mix of converted buildings and new homes.

At least 11 of the homes at the the Winterbourne Abbas Manor Farm site will be 'affordable' and expected to be delivered in partnership with Sovereign Housing.

One of the key issues over the site has been the flood risk to the site entrance, although none of the homes are at risk.

Council officers had recommending turning the scheme down, mainly because of the flood risk to the site entrance, but councillors took the opposite view saying the benefits to the village outweighed the risk.

One of the barns, close to the front of the Winterbourne Abbas Manor Farm site will be retained because of its importance as a bat roost for the rare long eared grey bat.

The developers will also keep a parking area for parents to use when dropping off and picking up their children from the village school on the other side of the main road.

Several changes have been made to the application over a number of years, the developers saying they have made the alterations in response to public comments.

The application for the 1.5 hectare site includes a public open space, bio-diversity measures and a storage area for floodwater. It also seeks to modify existing the existing access off Manor Farm Lane.

Agents for the developers say the buildings proposed for demolition are mainly large modern farm structures that detract from the character of the village Conservation Area, or are in a poor state and not capable of conversion.

The majority of the proposed new properties will two or three bedroom in a mix of styles, none of them within a flood zone, although the access to the site is in a flood zone.

The village has been identified as a key villages able to take some development to help protect the facilities it has – including the village school and the garage and shop which is adjacent to the site on the same side of the road.

The developers said that with 7,000 on the local housing waiting list housing around 150 people on the site, would make a small impact on the list, and could also bring around 80 children, helping secure the village school, as well as securing the school pick up-drop off parking space and a play area and footpath.

Dorset Council planning officers had recommended against the development arguing that other site would be better suited and with a lower flood risk.

Green councillor Cllr Belida Bawden (Charmouth & Lyme Regis) said the development could sustain the village, which might otherwise struggle, and be of benefit to the school 'bang opposite' the site.

She said that when the road flooded it tended to be on the outskirts of the village, not at the Manor Farm site, and for the majority of the time remained dry.

Cllr Kate Wheller said it was a good use of what was rapidly becoming a derelict site and would support the community – but asked for a full safety brief on the attenuation pond.

"On balance the flooding issues are not as great as the advantages of the development," she said.

Beaminster Cllr Craig Monks proposed accepting the development, saying the benefits, including a school parking area, play area, and footpath through the site outweighed the potential flood risk.