COUNCILLORS have backed the latest plans put forward for the Dorchester Prison site but have again stressed the need to include affordable housing.

Dorchester Town Council's planning and environment committee was asked to approve the council's response to the second stage of consultation being held by City and Country, which acquired the jail site earlier this year.

So far it has only put forward 'layout concepts' for the site setting out initial ideas that include retaining the main prison building and removing the more modern and 'unsympathetic' buildings on site.

Options for redeveloping the main cell block put forward by City and Country include converting it to apartments or to a hotel.

The town council response backed the proposal to remove modern buildings on the site but maintain the original Victorian buildings including the listed gatehouse.

It also said the council was supportive of the principle or removing sections of the walls but would like to understand specific details.

The council also backed the idea of both residential development and uses that create footfall between the site and town centre such as small shops, a café or restaurant, gallery space or informal heritage interpretation.

Additional statements put forward as part of the response include the need to provide affordable housing on site, questioning the need for a hotel on site given provision elsewhere in the town and concerns about the over provision of care and residential homes in the town.

The response also states that given projects already in hand nearby there is no need for a community centre or museum space on the site but 'interpretation of the site’s heritage should be integrated into the overall design of the scheme'.

Chairman of the council's planning and environment committee Cllr Susie Hosford welcomed the opportunities City and Country had given so far for the council and others to contribute to the plans for the scheme but added that the concern did remain about affordable housing.

She said: "We obviously welcome City and Country and we are very pleased with the level of consultation they have done so far.

"However, we would just reiterate our commitment to the provision of affordable housing on site and the importance of that."

As well as consulting with the town council, City and Country has also held two public events to give local residents the chance to put across their views on what they would like to see on the prison site.