Development sites in Lyme Regis are so hard to find that the town may have to do without a new supermarket – despite the claim that it needs one.

West Dorset councillors heard that there are similar problems in finding sites for housing.

The district’s overview and scrutiny committee was told on Tuesday that although the town had plenty of shops many of them cater mainly for the tourist trade leaving a limited choice for everyday shopping with residents travelling to Seaton, Bridport and Axminster for their bulk food shop.

“The town centre is lacking in services for local residents, for example there are no retail banks, no opticians, laundrette / dry cleaners, mobile phone store etc. It would benefit from a broader range of goods being sold to readjust the balance between tourist and local needs,” said a report.

A draft review of the Local Plan suggests that there is a need for extra homes in the town but says that suitable sites are hard to find, forcing planners to look to the edges of the town or over the Devon border.

A site south of Colway Lane has been indentified for a further 45 houses, but other development opportunities are limited to Woodberry Down, which is being developed and nearing completion and a continuation of the site to provide another 40 units.

Both the caravan site and the park and ride on the outskirts of the town have been investigated for housing but rejected for a variety of reasons – including the fact that many of the caravans are privately owned, said planning policy manager Trevor Warrick.

The review of the Local Plan, which guides development up to 2036, will be open for public comment during the autumn. Its authors say that for Lyme Regis the: “Challenges for the local plan review include taking advantage of the economic benefits of tourism and the World Heritage Site location, while meeting the local needs for affordable housing and jobs, and protecting the town’s unique character and environment.”

By 2036, when the local plan ends, the objectives are that Lyme Regis should retain its unique coastal character while developing to meet local needs “with a focus on affordable housing, so as to retain a viable mixed-age community.”

Other issues which need tackling include effective traffic management and improved pedestrian access in and around the town centre.

The reports says the town should “have a positive relationship with the nearby village of Uplyme, with the two communities working together to meet their needs.”