SKETCHES detailing development plans for nearly 800 homes at Vearse Farm in Bridport have been revealed.

Hallam Land Management submitted the sketches in discussions surrounding a local plan for West Dorset.

The plans are for 760 new homes with allocation of land for a primary school, a care home, business units and open space.

The local plan examination began on November 25 at West Dorset District Council offices and was expected to last three weeks.

The local plan sets a planning strategy for the area up to 2031 and if adopted, the developers will submit a planning application.

The site lies within the Dorset area of outstanding natural beauty, is 1.7 miles from the Jurassic Coastline and consists of 70 hectares of farmland.

Andy Birch, area manager for Hallam Land Management, told The News: “The potential development site at Vearse Farm has been identified by West Dorset District Council as their preferred development site at Bridport in their emerging local plan, which will guide development in the district up until 2028.

“The proposal at Vearse Farm is for a mix of residential, including affordable housing, employment and community use facilities; combined with extensive areas of green infrastructure and open space.

“Hallam Land Management have undertaken detailed technical studies over the last three years to help inform the local plan process, and will be in a position to submit a planning application in 2015.”

But campaigners opposed to the development presented a petition of 1,400 signatures to West Dorset District Council last week.

The petition demanded that the authority rethink the inclusion of Vearse Farm in its local plan.

To gather the signatures, volunteers spent a morning campaigning in Bucky Doo Square.