A PLANNING application for 190 new homes at the former Dorchester prison site has been submitted.

The application from developers City and Country also includes proposals for commercial space and the listed gatehouse to the county town jail will be retained and will house either a museum or interpretive space.

City and Country made its submission to West Dorset District Council following a three-stage public consultation attended by over 1400 local residents, elected representatives and community organisations.

The proposals will create a mixed use scheme providing 190 new homes and new commercial frontage onto North Square.

The proposal for the museum or interpretive space in the gatehouse was supported by 84 per cent of respondents during the latest stage of public consultation.

City and Country says the submitted masterplan has been developed and informed by extensive feedback received during the public consultation process plus comprehensive studies on the site.

It says the final design for the prison reduces the scale of the northern blocks, providing a more appropriate response to the heritage assets and particularly the historic gatehouse.

It also includes increased landscaping and open space in a bid to enhance views towards the site.

The overall design has also been further refined to complement the historic features of the Victorian cell blocks.

Richard Winsborough, associate director (planning) at City and Country, said: "We are pleased to announce that our application has been submitted to West Dorset District Council.

"We are dealing with a truly fascinating building and there’s been a fantastic amount of interest in the future of this site.

"We would like to thank everybody who has taken the time to be involved with our consultation.

"At each stage of the consultation process we have refined the design of the proposals and believe these plans will create a vibrant and fitting development of which Dorchester will be proud.”

In the New Year an exhibition will be held inviting local residents and interested parties to view the submitted proposals and find out how to comment on the submitted application.

Event details will be made available on the City and Country website at cityandcountry.co.uk