PLANS for 450 new homes and a primary school on the outskirts of Weymouth have been revealed.

Details of the 26 hectare (64 acre) development on land east of Chickerell, which also includes a community centre and open space, will be discussed at a public consultation next week which residents are being urged to attend.

The large strip of land, which lies between Chickerell and the electricity sub-station behind Wessex Golf Centre, is allocated for housing in the West Dorset, and Weymouth and Portland Local Plan.

The proposed development will represent a major expansion of Chickerell.

Developers Pegasus Group say it will include approximately 450 new homes, a primary school, a local centre and open space.

Members of the public are now being urged to attend the consultation to put across their views.

The consultation is the first stage of the planning process and following this Pegasus Group will submit a planning application to West Dorset District Council (WDDC).

A further consultation will be held after the plans are submitted to the council.

Cllr Ian Gardner, county councillor for Chickerell, said: “This development has been on the cards since the draft local plan was put forward three years ago, and what is now being shown is some of the details of the plans.

“Chickerell is one of the biggest employment areas in the county outside of Bournemouth and Poole, with the Granby Industrial Estate and the Link Park business park so it makes sense to build houses in Chickerell, to develop an area where there’s already growth.

“One of the biggest benefits about more houses being built is that you hope the infrastructure would be improved, such as the roads, a school, a health centre and supermarket.

“The development is almost a done deal in that the land where the homes will be built has been set aside in the draft local plan as an area for houses to be built on, but the details of the development have not been finalised and that’s the reason for this consultation.”

The consultation will take place at the Chickerell Town Council meeting room at Willowbed Hall on Thursday, March 19 between 2.30pm and 7.30pm, and a website east-chickerell.co.uk will also be launched on Thursday, with the detailed plans.

For more information on the proposals or the consultation, contact Pegasus Group on 01258 641717.

Cllr Jean Dunseith, who represents the Chickerell Ward on West Dorset District Council, urged members of the public to attend the consultation.

She said: “I will certainly be going to the consultation and I hope other people will do too. The consultation is at a good time because it runs all through the afternoon and into the evening so people can go, even if they work.

“The area of the proposed development does border on some existing housing, and it’s very important that people go to the consultation, especially those who might be overlooked by it.

“It’s a bit like a Chickerell wrap-a-round, and we have to ensure we have the infrastructure like roads, the correct drainage because part of the site is on a slope, and hopefully that will be highlighted at the event.”