A major redevelopment of a Blandford brewery goes before a special meeting of district planning chiefs tomorrow with brewery bosses promising 350 new jobs and nearly 200 new houses if the application is successful.

Hall and Woodhouse wants to build a new brewery and offices on its site at Bournemouth Road, in Blandford St Mary. Plans to convert the existing Victorian brewery and other buildings at the site into 34 flats are also on the table. A further 156 homes could be built on the western side of the site with access from Bournemouth Road if the proposals are accepted.

A brew house towering some 15 metres above the planned 13,000 square metre brewing facility provides the centrepiece of the industrial side of the application. Storage tanks and distribution areas form essential components of the new beer plant. Drinks chiefs plan to keep the Maltings office and to add a further 1100 square metres of office space.

A mix of houses and flats make up the brewery's plans for new housing near the town. The residential development on the western side of the site also includes plans for a community hall. Planning officers are demanding the brewery pays £50,000 to the construction of the 145 square metre community building.

North Dorset council's planning officers have approved the application, but with several expensive clauses for the brewery. Officers are demanding £40,000 for a new play park, and £15,000 to refurbish Sour Park Skate Park. Drinks bosses have been asked to stump up an additional £40,000 to maintain and replace play areas in the Chettle Way and Pigeon close precincts.

Councillors will see the site at first hand tomorrow morning. The application goes under the microscope when civic chiefs gather at the Bournemouth Road site. They return to the council's Norden HQ in the afternoon to make their final decision.