ONE of the nation’s major music festivals is set to relocate to Dorset.

Organisers of Bestival have announced that after 13 years they plan to move the popular event from the Isle of Wight to Purbeck.

If its licence application is approved, the award winning festival will take place in the grounds of Lulworth Castle next year - the same location as its family-orientated sister show Camp Bestival, which is held in July.

Bestival organisers have applied for a licence to stage the four-day event between September 7-10, with plans submitted to Purbeck District Council and a 28-day consultation under way.

Bestival curator and DJ Rob da Bank said: “We can confirm we have submitted a licence application for a new site at the Lulworth Estate in Dorset and we’re super excited about our shiny new Bestival adventure.

“We have an incredible line-up, headliners confirmed and ridiculous new stages and installations coming your way in 2017.”

Dave Grindle, operations director for Loud Sound, said the site’s capacity would be expanded to around 40,000, compared with the 30,000 currently catered for at Camp Bestival. On the Isle of Wight Bestival has had a capacity of around 50,000, with recent headline acts including The Cure, Stevie Wonder, Florence and the Machine, Elton John and Duran Duran.

Mr Grindle said: “Taking Bestival to a new site is an exciting undertaking for everybody involved.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Loud Sound to manage the logistics of two different shows at the Lulworth Estate.

“The extensive knowledge we’ve gained of the site and the surrounding area over the past decade will help us deliver two unique events while minimising any disturbance to local residents.”

Mr Grindle said relocating Bestival was a “tough decision for everybody to make” but that organisers were confident it was the right move for the future of the festival.

He said he was also confident the event would provide a further boost to the Dorset economy.

“A lot of people who come down for Camp Bestival later come down and holiday in Dorset, having never been before and never had any intention of holidaying in Dorset,” he said.

Camp Bestival, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary, will take place from July 27 to July 30.