THE call has gone out for Purbeck landowners to contact council officials with details of any plots that could be used for future development.

Purbeck District Council (PDC) wants to hear from owners about any land - currently containing buildings or other structures - that could be considered for future development.

With sites at a premium, and government calling for more homes to be built in Purbeck, the district council is setting up a register of brownfield sites that have potential to be developed for housing.

PDC councillor Laura Miller, housing portfolio holder, said: "Purbeck District Council supports the use of brownfield land for housing, wherever possible.

"The register will show us where suitable and available land is situated in the district so we can consider it for housing development ahead of greenfield sites.

"I would encourage any landowner who is interested to submit their brownfield land for consideration."

National planning guidelines, established in a bid to address the current nationwide housing shortage, call for Purbeck to build an additional 3,080 homes over the next 16 years - on top of the 2,500 already identified.

However, local campaigners have questioned these numbers, calling for evidence to back them up.

For brownfield sites to be considered by PDC, they have to be at least 0.25ha - just over half an acre - or capable of supporting at least five homes.

A PDC spokesman explained the council has to use the government's official definition of brownfield land, stipulating a site will either contain buildings and/or structures, to compile the register.

"Sites containing agricultural buildings or certain mineral extraction, waste disposal sites or historic remains of buildings are not applicable," said the spokesman.

Sites can be submitted for consideration to Purbeck District Council, Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham, up until August 29.

Alternatively email submissions to localplan@purbeck-dc.gov.uk