PLANS for a major holiday park development in West Dorset have been backed by councillors.

Members of West Dorset District Council’s development control committee have this afternoon supported an outline planning application for a development featuring up to 1,000 holiday homes at Warmwell Quarry in Crossways.

The Silverlake scheme also includes a hotel, country club and spa and will bring an estimated £470million of investment into the area as well as creating hundreds of jobs.

Managing director of applicants Habitat First Group Will Vicary said: “We are pleased that the councillors closely examining the plans for Silverlake have been approved our request for outline planning permission.

“We are planning to create a truly unique concept for Dorset which boosts the local economy, protects and manages the environment and benefits the local community with a long-term strategic plan for the quarry.”

The planning approval is subject to conditions agreements being reached over Highways Agency concerns over the impact on the Max Gate junction on the A35 Dorchester bypass and Network Rail concerns over the level crossing near to the development site at Woodsford.

However, the committee was told that council officers were confident both issues could be easily resolved.