A former builders' yard in rural West Dorset could become a campsite – if Dorset Council planners agree.

An application has been submitted for the change of use on an eighth of an acre site opposite stable buildings in Ridgeback Lane, between West Milton and South Poorton, near Bridport.

The application says the site will be used as a private retreat campsite with plans to build a field-shelter shed measuring 5.5m by 2.75m, which will house a shower, toilet and kitchenette, as well as space for rubbish and recycling bins.

The application from Richard Maya, who lives in Shepton Mallett, Somerset, said that the builders' yard use of the site finished in October 2010.

In a covering letter to Dorset Council, he said: "What I would now like to do is to offer the space as an exclusive use, private, luxury camping retreat. It is to be targeted at couples or small families visiting the area, who can enjoy an off-grid, low ecological impact stay in a self-catering, luxurious, campsite setting, benefitting from great access to many local attractions.

"The site plan would consist of a four-metre diameter tent dwelling, such as a bell tent, or yurt, and a field-shelter styled facilities building to accommodate a composting toilet, a shower room, a kitchenette, and a storage area to contain gardening and maintenance equipment, separated bins for recycling, water storage, a solar power plant and propane gas supply.

"The site would also benefit from a fire-pit area in the south corner, with a wildflower meadow patch running adjacent along the bottom of the bank, an open-air dining area (including a fixed barbecue stand) in the west corner where the views are best, and next to that a habitat area of rotting wood which will hopefully accommodate some goldencrested newts; a native, protected species.

"In the interest of optimising the biodiversity of the site, I am planting fruit trees, have kept in place two hollowed out tree stumps to encourage local bats to nest here, and I also intend to erect nesting boxes for birds on the facilities building."

Full details of the planning application can be found on the Dorset Council planning website, by searching reference number 2022/07635, and comments from the public remain open until April 10.