Neighbours again Jonathan Ross NIMBY battle over plans to construct properties

Neighbours of Jonathan Ross are at war over plans to build almost 100 new homes adjacent to the star’s holiday home in one of the most picturesque areas of Britain.

The TV presenter and his screenwriter wife Jane Goldman are leading opposition to the development as they say it will directly overlook their £2million grade II listed 16th Century Dorset farmhouse.

In a letter of objection to the plans for a former international school being developed, Ross said the loss of privacy will be ‘distressing’ for his family.

He also warned that the development will change to the fabric of local life and have an impact on traffic and amenities. 

The TV presenter has owned the farmhouse since 2005 and said he had rejected numerous offers to sell the home set in six acres as he did not want the land to be developed and lead to a negative impact on the town.

It’s a view echoed by many residents who live close to the former Harris House International School set on a hill that overlooks the town of Swanage. Developers have submitted plans to convert the main school building into flats with a total of 93 homes being built on the extensive grounds.

They have said nine of the homes will be set aside as affordable housing which is designed to allow local workers get on the property ladder with shared ownership or reduced rents.

But MailOnline has learned that the majority of homeowners nearby apparently back Ross’s vehement opposition – on the grounds that the builds will have a huge impact on the quiet coastal town of Swanage with increased traffic and demand on local facilities.

Retirees living along a cul-de-sac that is the only road into the new development are most likely to be affected.

They insist they are not NIMBYS – short for ‘not in my back yard’ and applied to kneejerk objections to nearby developments – but are specifically concerned about future traffic chaos.

Josephine Duncan,74, said the town would struggle to cope with an influx of up to 200 more residents.

‘We really do not need more people here. It is overcrowded as it is and local services are stretched, she said.

‘My husband needed a blood test and was told he could have one in September. It can take up to three weeks to see a GP as there is only one main GP surgery in the town.

‘There are just too many homes that are being built.’

‘It is going to be a complete disaster and if I were younger I would move, said an 84-year-old homeowner.

‘There will be cars coming and going all the time. The road outside my house is just not equipped to take so much traffic. When the school was open coaches had to drop the kids off at the bottom of the road as it was so narrow. It is just ridiculous to think so many cars will now be going up and down all day.’

Ian Burch said his road is already effectively a single lane and warned there will be traffic chaos.

Richard Bartram said his main concern was for the increase in traffic having a detrimental effect on the area.

‘Many of the people who live here are pensioners and retirees. The last thing they want is for it to be so congested with traffic.

His wife Yvonne added: ‘We moved here from Nottingham as it is so much quieter. I do understand that more homes must be built, but the development is out of keeping with the area. There are too many.’

Those opposed to the development are backed by the local Tory ward councillor Gary Sutttle.

He said: ‘We cannot have such big developments if the infrastructure is not there to support an additional 200-250 people. Swanage does not have major supermarket such as Sainsburys or Tesco’s That would be seen as a better use for the site.

‘The new Government wants to build homes all over the place and people want to live in such a nice place as the Jurassic coast, but I will not support the planning application for the development.

But some residents living closer to town back the development – and say their main concern is that not enough of new homes will be set aside for locals.

The Purbeck Local Plan has mandated that 30 per cent of any new development must be allocated as affordable housing – homes sold on shared ownership scheme or for rent at a reduced rate.

The developers Westcoast Developments have said 10 properties will be deemed as affordable housing.

But Reverend Ian Bird said there were 190 families on the housing waiting list in Swanage and the offer of 10 homes out of 90 failed to meet the requirement in the Purbeck Local Plan for future housing.

He said: ‘We have at least 25 per cent of homes in Swanage that are second homes or Airbnbs.

‘There is a real need for housing for local families and this development does not go far enough. The council adopted the Purbeck Local Plan which says 30 per cent of new developments should be affordable housing. The plans so far submitted fail to meet that.

‘There is a severe shortage of homes for local people and there is no recognition of the local plan in the development.’

David Smith, 76, who has lived in Swanage for 25 years, said local people should come first but fears with the average cost of a home at over £400,000 many will not be able to afford to live in Swanage.

‘There is a desperate need for houses and the Government has recognised that,’ he said.

‘My only concern is that many people who are around here will be priced out. It has got so expensive, and we do need much more affordable housing so that people have a chance to live where they grew up.’

A newly-imposed ban on second homeowners by Dorset Council mean that whoever buys the new properties must live in them.

Electrician Simon Hall said he understood the need for more homes but warned keeping out second homeowners could have a negative effect.

‘We do need money to come into the town and that comes from those who occasionally live here. They will support the new restaurants and ventures.’

A spokesman for Dorset Council said a decision on the planning application for the former Harris House site would be made at a later date.