COUNCILLORS are seeking advice about the legality of Government plans to build thousands of homes in Dorset.

More than 30 protesters stood outside County Hall while councillors at a cabinet meeting discussed the new plans to provide more houses in the county.

County councillor Hilary Cox said the council should reject the latest 'unrealistic' proposals because they do not include the necessary infrastructure needed for the changes.

Coun Cox added: "Our evidence has been ignored and the proposed changes now don't even consider the transport and infrastructure needed for these new houses.

"The report is skewed and not based on evidence and therefore we strongly reject it."

After the initial proposals in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy (drss) the Secretary of State replied to Dorset with revised changes.

The new plans still include that an urban extension of 3,000 homes should be built at Dorchester and 5,000 in Weymouth.

The report drawn up by Dorset and South Wiltshire Planning and Liaison Committee says the cost of putting new infrastructure in Dorchester would amount to £100,000 per home.

In response to the changes, the county council's director for environment, Miles Butler, has written to the Government saying that the council finds the plans 'undeliverable'.

He said: "We are concerned about the lack of evidence to support these decisions and there is also concern about the lack of infrastructure and the future of the Green Belt environment."

He told councillors that the council will seek help from barristers for a judiciary review.

The protesters who gathered outside County Hall said they were pleased the council is looking to go to a review.

Next Thursday, the Campaign to Protect Rural England is organising coaches to go to Parliament to protest against the Government's plans.