FURTHER public consultation on the controversial Purbeck Local Plan is likely to take place later this year, district officials say.

This plan, essentially a blueprint setting out the sites for preferred development in Purbeck until 2033, is currently being updated.

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 2,520 already identified.

However, the Pan Purbeck Action Campaign (PPAC) group is protesting against the numbers. They're calling for evidence to support a 'near doubling of the current house-building rate'.

The district council's 2016 consultation on the partial review attracted 3,300 comments, highlighting a range of concerns - including worries about possible new housing at Wool, Wareham, Lytchett Minster and Lytchett Matravers.

Since then PDC says it has been working to update the plan, with a number of studies ongoing in relation to it.

Once these studies have been completed, the council says, the dates for the next public consultation, likely to be late 2017, will be confirmed.

PDC deputy leader Barry Quinn said: "The local plan is an important document that will help shape the future of Purbeck, so it is important we get it right.

"There will be an opportunity for people to submit their views to help shape the plan. These views are important to us and we will be encouraging everyone with an interest in the future of the district to take part."

PDC says it will be sending information on the consultation to all Purbeck households.

Cllr Quinn said: "As well as opportunities to submit views in writing, people will be able to share ideas with others through local meetings."