PLANS have been drawn up that could transform racing stables in Dorset into a new housing and commercial development.

Proposals have been submitted by businessman Peter Bolton for permission to build 28 flats and 28 industrial units at Whitcombe Manor Racing Stables, near Dorchester.

Property developer Mr Bolton is hoping planning chiefs at West Dorset District Council will give the project the thumbs up.

The grounds were used as racing stables for nearly 20 years but Mr Bolton, whose own race horse Cool Ground won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1992, wants to convert the empty stables into a mixture of homes and small commercial units similar to Dorchester's Poundbury estate.

Mr Bolton, who lives in Poxwell Manor near Weymouth, developed the racing stables after he bought the Whitcombe estate in 1987 in a bid to create a first class training centre.

He said: "Much to my disappointment it stopped as a horse training centre in 1997 and it has been left empty since then.

"We tried to sell the stables and marketed the property internationally but with no luck.

"It was then suggested that we could turn it into a live/work unit based on the idea of Poundbury where people could live and work in the same area and cut out the need to travel."

He added: "This proposal means that hopefully something positive will come out of the disappointment of the stables and, as well as this, create job opportunities for the local area.

"It is difficult to pre-judge what will happen but we did make the application in consultation with the local authority and we are confident that it fulfils the criteria that central government is trying to promote."

Planning chiefs at the district council have received about half a dozen letters from members of the public voicing their concerns about the proposal.

Special projects manager for the district council, Andrew Martin, said: "It is very early days yet and we will be waiting to see what individual members of the public and the parish council think of the proposals and any concerns they may have. We will also be consulting the Highways Agency, the Environ-ment Agency, as well as with our colleagues.

Mr Bolton became Lord of Whitcombe when he bought the 952-acre estate for £2 million.