THE FIRST of two attempts to seek planning approval to develop Dorchester's former prison site will be considered tomorrow.

Members of West Dorset District Council's planning committee will consider a revised application to build 185 homes on the site of the former town jail, which closed in December 2013.

A previous application was rejected by the committee last August, with members concerned about the impact of a new building along North Square on neighbouring residents.

Developer City and Country has since submitted a fresh application, which it claims has addressed the concerns raised by the committee.

An appeal against the original refusal is also set to take place at the council's South Walks House offices in Dorchester on Tuesday, February 21 from 10am.

The revised application, which will be considered tomorrow, includes amended plans for the block along North Square, with the apartment block replaced with eight terraced houses set further back from the properties opposite.

The application did initially include an additional unit to the west site of the square, next to the No6 restaurant, but this has since been withdrawn from the proposals following concerns raised by Historic England and the restaurant.

District councillor Susie Hosford, who is also the chairman of Dorchester Town Council's planning and environment committee, said that the developer seemed keen to do all it could to address the concerns of the local residents.

She said: "They have done masses of consultation with the people in North Square and it seems they are as happy as they will ever be with what the proposals are now."

The Dorchester Labour group has been campaigning for more affordable homes in Dorchester is still keen to see affordable housing provided on the site, something not currently required by the developer as it claims it would make the scheme unviable.

It is urging people to attend the meeting at 10am tomorrow and members will be holding a demonstration beforehand.

Barry Thompson, from Dorchester Labour, said: "200 residents objected to the original plan because of the lack of affordable housing and 700 people have signed Labour Party petitions on the issue.

"We would like to ask West Dorset District Council to make an amendment to the Local Plan, as some other councils have done, that says unless a developer is meeting the 35 per cent affordable rule, they have to publish their viability assessment in full.

"Treat west Dorset residents with respect so we can be sure excessive profits are not being made at our expense."