MAJOR plans from a government department to flood a huge area of land in Purbeck to create mudflats and salt marshes have been submitted.

After years of talks and assessments, the Environment Agency has finally tabled an application to Dorset Council for the Moors at Arne coastal change project, which involves a 150-hecate site.

The multi-million-pound scheme involves ‘breaching’ the existing tidal embankment in three places on the northern boundary to create new habitats.

To limit the ‘tidal inundation’, two new set back embankments would be created create in the south and south east of the site.

The proposals for the site near Wareham include the construction of two new tidal-regulated saline lagoons and the enhancement of the existing freshwater habitats.

A statement by the Environment Agency said it had been engaging with residents of Wareham, Stoborough, Arne and Ridge since 2017 alongside partners at RSPB and Natural England.

“To mitigate the loss of intertidal habitats due to a phenomenon called ‘coastal squeeze’, the Moors at Arne scheme has developed the concept of allowing tides further inland to create the correct conditions for wildlife that lives on salt marsh or mudflat, without increasing risk to life or property from flooding,” the statement said.

When discussions first started on the project five years ago, residents voiced concerns about the scheme, including worries over the impact the scheme could have on the low-lying area where the village of Ridge.

Many objectors dubbed the new embankment on the south of the site as “the Great Wall of Dorset”.

Initially, it was scheduled that the planning application would be submitted in 2019 but the project was hit by delays.

If the council approves the plans, work will take three years to create the conditions needed to adapt the site into an appropriate location for animals and plants with access for visitors to enjoy.

The Environment Agency said the Moors at Arne would create the required compensatory habit to allow future coastal defence work to protect 3,000 properties in Poole Harbour from flood risks.

A planning statement said once operational the site would attract up to 22,000 extra visitors a year but “this is not predicted to give rise to significant increases in traffic volumes for local roads”.