ANOTHER attempt is being made to build a three-bed bungalow home in the rear garden of a Dorchester home.

Neighbour objections about 'backland development' affecting the character of the Manor Park area led to a previous application for the site being rejected by a planning officer – a decision which was later upheld at appeal.

Despite rejecting the appeal the Inspector decided there was nothing, in principle, against a backland developments in the area.

A planning agent for the family proposing the scheme has argued that the use of the 10 Manor Road site at would be a positive benefit, producing a high quality disabled-friendly property in a largely un-used garden area.

One neighbour has described the proposal as: "a cynical land-grab with scant regard for the people who live close by."

Elevations of the proposed bungalow.

In the latest application the agent says: "The residential intensification of the site is considered entirely appropriate and in accordance local policy… The positioning of the proposed dwelling has been informed by other infill developments to the rear of Manor Road. Therefore, the proposal would be an appropriate response to the prevailing pattern of development."

If approved, the development, by severing the plot, would increase the number of parking spaces on the combined site from two to four.

More than twenty residents had written about the initial proposal with Dorchester Town Council also against the idea – telling planning officers: "The creation of an access drive alongside the boundary of the property would cause nuisance to the adjacent neighbours and would represent over-development contrary to the character of the neighbourhood. Councillors were also concerned about the two properties sharing one driveway and access onto Manor Road. In addition, the proposal would represent over-development of a residential neighbourhood."

Dorset Council's planning case officer, assessing the first application, said the small area of open space which would be left for the bungalow's occupants would not be sufficient and that having the access route so close to No 10 Manor Road, close to the front of the 'parent' house and then down the side of the site, would be harmful to those in the main house and the next door property.

Only one neighbour has commented on the latest application, claiming the latest proposal addresses only one of the four grounds originally set out by Dorset Council in its initial rejection, the "lack of amenity space".

The objector says that space now proposed has been reconfigured to give the impression of more garden, but remains only the size of three parked cars.

"This is smaller than our existing front garden and scant recreational space for any residents of the new bungalow. Furthermore, the reconfiguration of the bungalow means that the now predominantly north-facing building will get scant direct sunlight."

The objector also claims that the proposed building would be in breach of a legal covenant that limits development on all land belonging to the properties of numbers 2-14 Manor Road and would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the area, and the design and style of the proposed building would be out of keeping with its surroundings.

"The proposal is a cynical land-grab with scant regard for the people who live close by and for the turbulence that would be caused by their actions in the short and longer term. It is inconceivable that the proposers would ever live in either the bungalow or the main house and would bequeath that legacy to the new buyers."

Public comments for the application, 2024/07190, close on January 10th, according to Dorset Council.