Campaigners against the development of more than 750 homes are calling on Dorset Council to hold developers to agreed plans after an amended planning application was submitted.

Hallam Land Management, applicants of the Vearse Farm development on the edge of Bridport, have asked if the first access provided as part of the development off West Road was the eastern access, rather than the western access.

The applicant said this would "safeguard the council's position in requiring two accesses" but would give "flexibility for the developer to choose which access is delivered first".

Barry Bates, chairman of ADVEARSE, said: "The proposed changes are minor in themselves but we have urged the council to hold the developers to the agreed plans.

"There are many examples nationally where developers, having obtained planning permission, manipulate the plans by, for example, reducing the amount of affordable houses.

"The applicants were aware of the [Section] 106 conditions when they signed the legal agreement in May 2019 and the council should signal to the developers, they intend to hold them to the commitments made in full.

"We would also point out that if the access road nearer town and related footpaths and cycleways are not built until 300 houses are occupied, then traffic will increase significantly along West Road and the narrow pavements will present increased dangers to pedestrians."

ADVEARSE members said the request to change the plans should be taken as an opportunity by Dorset Council to "address the failure" of the previous West Dorset District Council when considering the original application.

Mr Bates added: "The proposed change is about access onto the site. We have always argued that the plans should have also considered access into town. We need a new traffic assessment because the one at the time of the original planning permission has serious errors, e.g. in underestimating traffic flows at the North Allington roundabout and overestimating the width of pavements on West Road.

"Local people still have many concerns about the impact of Vearse Farm on the town. We urge our local representatives to take this opportunity to address those related to traffic and access in a more holistic way."

The application by Hallam Land Management for more than 750 homes, a school, care home, land for employment, open spaces and allotments at Vearse Farm on the edge of Bridport received outline planning permission in May 2019.

ADVEARSE challenged the decision and a judicial review into Dorset Council's planning approval was held earlier this year with the main focus being that the development lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The land was subsequently put up for sale earlier this year and is still listed with Savills estate agents.

Andy Birch, south west director at Hallam Land Management, said: "The application is being made in order to better enable the earlier delivery of the school, employment and local centre elements of the scheme, and as such is not a significant change to the existing permission, and indeed should be seen as a positive change."