The Dorset Youth Association Headquarters in Dorchester could be sold – with councillors from the town pressing for it to be used for affordable housing.

Talks will now be held with Dorchester town council about the future of the Lubbecke Way site with similar discussions taking place in Bridport about a former office building at The Grove and in Sherborne over a strip of land at Coldharbour Industrial Estate.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the West Dorset District Council strategy committee.

Former Dorchester Mayor Cllr Stella Jones said the youth headquarters site was ideal for affordable homes and should be transferred to the town’s Community Land Trust: “That way it will be a benefit to the community forever,” she said.

The three sites are all being considered for sale by West Dorset District Council along with other small parcels of land across the district.

Two homes at King Square, Bridport are expected to be converted for short-term emergency accommodation by the district council’s own Housing Options Team.

Bridport councillor David Rickard complained that although consultation with town councils had been promised by West Dorset District Council 18 months ago – no details had emerged, until a list of properties for sale was presented to Tuesday’s district Strategy Committee.

“Bridport Town Council is still without data about costs and income. I gather there are meetings all the time, even this week and next week but we still have nothing…it came as some surprise to see that some of these properties are coming up for sale when we have had no information.”

He called for the ‘for sale’ list to be withdrawn until there had been a chance for meaningful talks with town councils interested in taking on assets being disposed off by the district council.

Cllr Keith Day said he feared that The Grove could be lost to the town if it was offered on the open market before the town council had a chance to look at whether or not it could afford to take the building on.

He said none of the district council’s car parks had been included in the list of properties to be disposed of, yet town councils were hoping some of them could be transferred to pay for the upkeep of buildings and other sites they were prepared to take on.

Dorchester Cllr Susie Hosford said she was also surprised that car parks were ‘off-list’ – “It has come as something of a shock and surprise to be told ‘forget about the car parks’, they’re just not on the table.

“It has been virtually impossible for the town councils to make progress because the district has not provided any of the figures.”

She said the asset list included several sites which could be used for affordable housing – yet the suggestion was that they be sold on the open market.

“There is considerable potential to support affordable housing yet we seem to be hell bent on disposing these sites on the open market.”

But Strategy Director Martin Hamilton said the resolution to dispose of the sites was only “a back stop” position and would not preclude talks with the town councils going ahead.

District council briefholder for housing, Cllr Tim Yarker, said he had looked for sites which might be suitable for affordable housing, but had conclude there was little scope.

Other sites being considered for sale include – a roadside verge at St Swithins Road, Bridport which could produce a site for 20 homes if a deal could be made with the adjoining landowner; land and three garages at Boldacre, Alton Pancras; a small strip of land at West Street, Bridport which an adjacent landowner is interested in; land at Meadow Close, Chickerell with six garages which will be offered to the town council; a former play area at Melcombe Horsey; land at Coles Lane, Yetminster; Dotcom office 1 & 2 at Buckland Newton and All Saints Church, Dorchester which is currently used as a store by the County Museum.

A separate list exists for sites which could be transferred to town or parish councils – these include properties in George Street and Seagulls Reastaurant, West Bay; a car park and picnic area at Chilfrome Lane, Maiden Newton; grazing land at West Cliff, West Bay; land adjacent to Gundry’s, Bridport and land at Huntsmead/Clanfield, Sherborne.

The council also has a secret list of land and other assets which may yet be for sale which was discussed behind closed doors after the press and public were excluded from the meeting on the grounds of financial confidentiality.