A campaign group against the development of 4,000 homes in north Dorchester has published its alternative strategy to the plans.

STAND believes its eight-point plan could go much of the way towards meeting local housing needs.

A spokesman for STAND said: "We have looked at all aspects of the local needs for housing both now and in the future.

"In comparison, the Dorset Council plan has been developed from the targets set by central government with little or no regard for local factors. For a plan to be effective it has to take into consideration a number of community-based issues.

"Mistakes have been made and, if the current proposed local plan is implemented, will continue to be made resulting in the wrong mix of housing being built in the wrong location.

"STAND has continued to question the validity of the area's housing target of 30,000 houses over the next 13 years. To put the figure in perspective, this would be the equivalent of building two new settlements the size of Dorchester - currently 20,000 - and most of Bridport - currently 13,000. Such huge numbers with a devastating effect on every aspect of the country that we value so much, before one even considers the impact on the already creaking infrastructure."

STAND's eight-point housing plan

1. Identify and fast track urban brown field sites

"There are a number of brown field sites that continue to lie dormant, including the prison, Dorset Cereals on Poundbury, woods in Icen Way and numerous smaller sites. These town locations are ideal for higher density, affordable housing and well served with facilities.

"The mechanism is already in place to integrate such sites into the planning process but it will require a more targeted approach by the planning authority.

"The priority is to increase housing density on these urban sites."

2. Challenge the developers using the 'opt out' for affordable housing quotas

"It is all too easy for developers to opt out their 'affordable housing' obligation. The way they circumvent the system is simple. They firstly obtain planning based upon the affordable housing requirement - currently 30 per cent. Permission is then granted after which 'independent' consultants are employed to report, that for varied reasons, the proposed mix of housing is not economically viable. At this point the planning authority caves in and the affordable housing element is removed.

"The glaring example was the prison site in Dorchester but there are a number of other examples throughout the Dorset planning area.

"The local authority needs to challenge these opt outs ahead of planning being approved and if necessary, contest the decisions.

"Every year in our area hundreds of houses that should be in the affordable category are being avoided by developers."

3. Further the town centre switch from retail to affordable residential

"The continuing decline if the retail sector means that there will be increasing opportunities to convert redundant buildings for residential use.

"The Government has already made the change of use simpler but local authorities can aid the change by identifying and encouraging the move. At the same time, it will do much to regenerate the numerous empty buildings in the centre of Dorchester.

"In tandem with the above we should aid the establishment of small local shops to support the above ie convenience stores by reduction in business rates and or subsidies."

4. An embargo on large scale retirement developments on land that should be used for affordable housing ie London Road, Dorchester, Mountjoy, Bridport

"Recent years has seen large brown field sites sold for retirement housing. These sites should have been earmarked for higher density affordable housing.

"Prime examples are the current London Road development in Dorchester and Mountjoy site in Bridport. Both will result in further inward migration into the area at the expense of the local need for housing.

"Intervention, in the form of an embargo on further large scale retirement developments on brown field sites."

5. Stimulate small scale building of affordable housing in village communities

"Our villages are at the heart of Dorset's community and every effort should be made to stimulate their growth and sustainability.

"Targeted affordable housing in small developments will sustain that growth without compromising the heritage of our villages. To support this we need to, where possible, reinstate local bus services whilst supporting village shops and post offices."

6. Encourage the expansion of shared ownership

"Shared ownership is proving to be a highly effective way for young people to enter the housing market. Unfortunately, we have been slow to adopt the practice in this area.

"Again, it requires a concerted strategy from our planning authority working with builders, housing associations and community land trusts to ensure that developments include this form of ownership."

7. Undertake an audit of 'frozen' planning permissions that have not commenced

"Nationally it is estimated that there are approximately 1 million 'frozen' planning permissions that are not being progressed. The planning authority needs to audit these in Dorset and determine what contribution they can make to the housing requirement.

"Dorchester currently has a pipeline with planning permission granted for 1,158 houses and 350 awaiting permission."

8. Continue to monitor unoccupied housing in the area

"Currently it is estimated that there are an estimated 600 unoccupied dwellings in the area, many of which have been in that position for a number of years.

"We support the strategy to bring, where possible, these properties back into the market place."

Concluding the report, the STAND spokesman added: "In terms of priorities, we see the need to stimulate and maintain the viability of our villages as key to the future development in the area.

"The local plan as it stands has failed to address many of the issues detailed above and ignores factors such as the growing number of second homes, currently estimated at 2,600 in Dorset.

"All of which will continue to have a major impact on the local housing needs both now and in the future."

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