The consultation on the Preferred Options for the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan review has come to an end.

Over a nine-week consultation period, which included a week-long extension due to technical problems, the councils received more than 900 responses and nearly 1,500 people attended roadshow events.

Over the next few months the councils’ Planning Policy Team will analyse the responses and work up a final draft of the local plan review.

Cllr Ian Gardner, West Dorset District Council portfolio holder for planning, said: “The Preferred Options were put forward in order to meet the future needs of our towns and villages. The feedback we have received by residents, business and organisations in this consultation will be considered against relevant policies and evidence-based research before a draft document is prepared.”

The draft local plan review will be subject to a further round of consultation.

Following this, it will be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by a planning inspector.

The first part of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan review took place in early 2017 on the issues and options available.

Part of the plan relates to Bridport and includes future town expansion, identifying the Rope Walks and coach station car parks as preferred locations.

It also covers land at Vearse Farm and identifies the site's capacity to deliver 930 homes, as opposed to the 760 first envisaged.

The plan was first adopted in October 2015, when an inspector’s report, following the public examination of the plan, required an early review to be undertaken. This was in order to identify additional land capable of fulfilling the housing needs requirement to the end of its plan period and for the following five years – up to 2036.