COUNCILLORS have confirmed a U-turn on plans to allocate land on the edge of Dorchester for development.

An area to the south-east of the county town known as Came View had been earmarked for around 850 homes in a proposed local plan for West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, sparking strong local opposition.

However, officers later claimed that the results further investigations into the cultural and historical significance of site had not yet been fully analysed and as such they recommended withdrawing the site from the local plan.

The revised proposal will see a housing stock for between 17 to 18 years identified in the local plan, rather than the 20 originally proposed, with a further review in around four years time.

The move was backed by West Dorset District Council’s policy scrutiny and executive committees and has now been given final approval by full council.

Areas that are proposed for development in the local plan include Crossways, which has an allocation for 500 homes, an 850-home urban extension at Chickerell, Vearse Farm in Bridport, which has been earmarked for 760 homes, and 120 homes planned for land north of Broadwindsor Road in Beaminster.

The local plan will now be submitted for inspection by an independent planning inspector and, if approved, will be adopted early next year.

Council leader Robert Gould said: “We have got a plan before us which is essentially the best we can produce in the circumstances, taking into account all the concerns that I know have been expressed.”