A PUBLIC meeting is being held on March 15 about alternative plans for St Michael’s Trading Estate in Bridport.

The Enterprise St Michael’s Ltd group is holding the summit at the Electric Palace at 6.30pm.

It comes after plans were lodged by owners Haywards & Co for 105 homes and revamped business units on the site.

Enterprise St Michael’s Ltd, which is a non-profit making organisation, will be offering an alternative future for the estate.

It says this would secure the site for business and community use and would expand to the conservation area while introducing an ecological outlook.

A spokesman said: “We believe there is a real opportunity to nurture, expand and create employment, tourism and apprenticeships here. We are looking forward to hearing ideas from the wider community on March 15.”

Enterprise St Michael’s has been registered with the Financial Services Authority.

It was set up with the intention of preserving and improving all that has become a positive contribution to the local community and economy.

The group intends to attract investment into the estate in order to carry out repair, renovation and develop it sensitively as a sustainable employment and cultural asset.

The project hinges on negotiations with Haywards & Co which cannot proceed until the outcome of the current proposals for demolition and a housing development is known, possibly in April.

A prospectus will be available at the meeting. Tenants and the public will be able to comment and ask questions.