A DEVELOPER has labelled a councillor's claims it has previously been defeated on planning applications 'incorrect and misleading'.

Dudsbury Homes hit back after Alderholt councillor David Tooke, who said a legal expert had beaten the developer in four appeals.

Made following the revelation that Alderholt Parish Council's plans to hire a £90,000 barrister to fight DH's plans to build 1700 homes in the area, Cllr Tooke said the authority had conversations with a barrister who he claimed had won four out of five cases against them. 

A representative of Dudsbury Homes said: "Contrary to councillor Tooke's claims, Dudsbury Homes has never had a planning application refused permission and has never had to initiate an appeal.

"We could not therefore have lost any appeals to the barrister the parish council is considering hiring. The assertion that Dudsbury Homes (Southern) have lost four appeals against this, or any other barrister, is entirely incorrect, and misleading."

Dudsbury Homes made plans to build 1,700 homes in Alderholt in 2022, effectively doubling the size of the village. 

Although refused on nine different accounts by Dorset Council, the developers have brought the case forward to be appealed in July 2024 and still believe it would beneficial to the area.

The representative said: "We would like to highlight the importance of the Alderholt Meadows project which will deliver much needed new homes, including up to 595 affordable homes, addressing the acute housing shortage in Dorset amidst outdated local plans. 

"Beyond housing, Alderholt Meadows will provide significant investment to enhance the sustainability of Alderholt, which as one of the larger settlements in Eastern Dorset, is widely recognised as currently lacking in services and facilities, including a new regular bus service linking Cranborne, Alderholt, Fordingbridge and Ringwood."

Cllr Tooke has said his comments were based on information he had been given. 

He said: "I those comments were [inaccurate] then I would apologise but if Dudsbury say they've never lost an appeal, I find that hard to believe. 

"I'm surprised by the claims, it doesn't match with what I've been told."