A MAJOR redevelopment creating a new Blandford brewery and offices, 350 jobs and up to 200 new homes has been given a favourable hearing.

Councillors at North Dorset District Council's development control went on a tour of the site last week then approved the application and referred it to full council for ratification.

They will hear the entire outline planning application and give a final ruling on Friday.

Principal planning officer John Hammond went through the case for the committee.

Councillors were told that Hall and Woodhouse believes that by making more efficient use of the space it could free up the Victorian brewery to convert it and other buildings into 34 flats.

The plan would also provide 156 homes on the western side of the site at Bournemouth Road, Blandford St Mary, and provide retail and restaurant uses, and a community centre.

A new brewery and offices would also be created within the plan, and some existing offices would also be kept.

In his report, Mr Hammond said: "It is accepted that the existing building has not got a long-term future in its current form.

"The constraints of the building are too severe to readily enable modernisation without securing an alternative site.

"The construction of a new brewery will secure this industry within Blandford."

If approved, the building work would be in three stages and last until 2014.

First to be built would be the new brewery, taking until 2010.

Work on the other units would start in 2009 and finally in stage three the houses would be built.

Over a third of the houses would be affordable homes.

Speaking to the committee, David Woodhouse from the brewery outlined the benefits of the plan.

Several residents also voiced their concerns over the plan, noting the length of the proposed building work and expressing concerns about the number of homes proposed and about overlooking issues.