COUNCILLORS have voiced their support for plans to build eight homes at a former factory site in Dorchester.

A planning application has been submitted to demolish a former flax factory on St Georges Road to make way for a development featuring two one-bedroom flats, three two-bedroom houses and three three-bedroom houses.

The proposal will also see the mobile park homes, show lorries, caravans and vans currently used by an extended family of travelling show people relocated from the site.

The plans were considered by Dorchester Town Council's planning and environment committee, which supported the application.

Committee chairman Susie Hosford said members felt that it would be a good addition to the town.

She said: "We were happy with it.

"We felt it would fit in quite nicely with the area."

The application site is located on the corner between St Georges Road and Fenway Close, less than one mile from Dorchester town centre.

The design and access statement submitted as part of the planning application says that the site has been owned by the Herberts, a family of travelling show people, for nearly 90 years and is used for long term storage of equipment but does also have some permanent caravans and mobile park homes.

It states that the site is “dominated” by the former flax factory, which will be demolished to make way for the eight homes.

A new access and footpath will also be created as well as a 'public amenity space'.

The plans, which will now go before West Dorset District Council for approval, can be viewed at dorsetforyou.com