Political unity appears to have been reached over plans for around 3,500 extra homes on farmland north of Dorchester.

The three main political parties each say that the development, if it goes ahead, should have genuinely affordable homes – available to local people.

In the outline proposals for the scheme planners say that 35 per cent of all the homes on the development should be ‘affordable.’

All three parties welcome this stance with some worried about what defines “affordable” and how it will be enforced.

The plan proposals say: “At least 35 per cent of the homes delivered should be affordable homes to meet the needs of those priced out of the housing market. In addition a proportion of private rental housing would further diversify the range of tenures available in the area and this would be encouraged.”

Said Janet Hewitt from the Liberal Democrats: “It needs to be homes which are genuinely affordable for local families, on local wages.

“We don’t want to see homes which very few people, locally, can afford and a repeat of Poundbury where hundreds of homes have been bought as second properties, or just for investment.”

The Dorchester North proposals were on view at a public exhibition at the West Dorset District Council headquarters, South Walks House, on Friday.

A similar exhibition will be available in the coming days at other venues in West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland.

The combined Local Plan review seeks to shape future development across both areas and is tied in with the Government ruling that each area must have a five-year supply of housing land.

Said Claudia Sorin of Dorchester Labour Party:” In the Local Plan for Dorchester North the council states that at least 35% of the homes delivered should be affordable without spelling out how they will make developers do this. WDDC failed to achieve this with the prison development. What they mean by affordable is not clear.

“There is a need to build genuinely affordable housing and 20% lower than market value is not genuinely affordable in West Dorset. Dorchester residents, particularly younger people, need stable tenancies through organisations such as housing associations or community land trusts, which are closer to 50% of market rates, currently around £600 p/m for a one bed flat.

“The council (West Dorset) has set up a company to buy land and they need to tell us how they plan to use it to restore social housing in the area.”

Conservative councillor Gerald Duke also backs the minimum target for affordable homes:

“In practical terms, a larger development is more likely to include the required infrastructure (schools doctors etc) then smaller developments.

“That is the case wherever they go. The same is true about affordable housing and I hope to see 35 per cent included. As part of that proportion I would also like to see many more homes to rent amongst the 35 per cent mix.”

But he is also critical of choosing Dorchester, again, to take the bulk of the area’s required housing target: “I do not think it is right that Dorchester should have 60 per cent of the total county requirement

dumped on it and the planners need to use a little more imagination to spread the load.

“For the future prosperity of the town and in the hope that youngsters can be kept in the area, an increase in housing will be good for Dorchester whether it is to the North or elsewhere nearby at a place that causes less damage to the environment and heritage.”

The consultation on the revisions to the local plan continues until October when views on the proposals will be considered and a revised plan produced for more formal consultation.

Other chances to view the Local Plan proposals take place on Thursday, September 6 at Charminster Village Hall, at Redlands Sports Hub, Weymouth on September 12, Bridport Leisure Centre on September 13 and Chickerell’s Willowbed Hall on September 14.

Dorchester Town Council’s planning committee is holding a special meeting about the Local Plan on Monday, September 10 at which members of the public will be allowed a limited period to speak.