MANAGING the Dorset coast's new World Heritage Status and the need for more affordable housing have emerged as key elements in public consultation for the county structure plan.

These comments and other remarks and advice will now be investigated in the structure plan review.

Details of issues arising from public consultation will be given to next Monday's meeting of the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Structure Plan Joint Committee.

Among talking points to emerge were conflicting opinions over the growth potential of the Dorchester-Weymouth-Portland area, the development potential of the Weymouth-Poole railway corridor and a review of the Green Belt.

And a joint report by county policy head Charles Cordy, Bournemouth planning head Andrew Duckworth and Poole strategic planning head David Ralph, says many parish and town councils were concerned that in-migration was forcing up house prices. They were also worried about protecting areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Conservation bodies gave helpful and detailed advice on many issues including the importance of managing growth pressures on an extremely important environment, says the report.

Transport interests supported the continued designation of the Weymouth-Poole railway corridor for development and stressed that poor links to Bristol and the West were often a disadvantage.

Commercial interests have backed a review of Green Belt boundaries because of increasing environmental designations. The report says they feel this would allow development in the most sustainable locations, including much needed affordable homes, but other people felt Green Belt boundaries should remain unchanged.

Five topic-based focus groups have also met and their concerns range from high house prices to low wages and affordable housing.

Poor transport links is another concern, together with the need for an integrated transport system with improved port and airport links. There is also a need to reduce traffic congestion and get drivers out of their cars and on to public transport.

Some group members felt the lack of affordable housing was making it difficult to attract labour and that it was not clear how businesses could be attracted to the Weymouth-Dorchester area.

Further research is needed on how to encourage companies to move to Dorset, says the report.

The meeting will be asked to note the contents of the report.