West Dorset MP Chris Loder has urged Housing Secretary Michael Gove to instigate an urgent review of the Dorset Council Local Plan in a bid to stop thousands of homes being built in north Dorchester.

He met with the Housing Secretary this month and expressed concerns over the proposals for Persimmon Homes to build around 4,000 homes on the outskirts of the town.

Mr Loder also spoke of the need to ensure the local plan focuses more on delivering for the needs of West Dorset communities. He also took the opportunity to press the need for more community housing and/or community land trust initiatives to ensure local housing for local people.

Mr Loder said: "The local plan needs to provide local housing for local people first, not just enormous developments that hoover life out of local villages. We need the right housing in the right areas, enabling housing for families and working people to live here and to deliver services for the community, as well as supporting the rural economy. 

"My intervention with the minister has highlighted the need to change the way in which the local plan is constructed that will better match the supply of housing with the demand."

A Dorset Council spokesman said: "We are taking into account all the comments submitted into last year's draft Dorset Council Local Plan consultation, including the petition from STAND [campaigners opposed to the development]."

Mr Loder has also strongly supported news that planning laws will eb given an overhaul under the new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

The proposed bill, announced as part of the Queen's speech on May 10, would seek to allow greater involvement of local residents in local development.

"The key issue at the middle of this is the north of Dorchester development," he said, "which I and the majority of local residents feel is not suitable for our county town.

"We need the right houses in the right place, and I believe the pressure I have been putting on the Government about this issue looks to have resulted in a positive change of direction. 

"I will continue working to ensure there are the right mechanisms in place to ensure the needs of the community can be better met that through mass development."