THERE is less than a month to save the unique character of South East Dorset.

That's the stark warning being issued as local councils launch a last-ditch bid to fight the government's controversial house-building plans.

With Secretary of State Hazel Blears expected to announce house-building targets next month, politicians and pressure groups face a race against time to campaign for lower numbers.

Today, councillors from all parties and all areas of South East Dorset will meet in Bournemouth to draw up a battle plan for the next few weeks.

And one of their first steps will be to try and enlist the support of Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, when they visit Bournemouth for the Local Government Association's conference next week.

Councillors hope Mr Cameron will pledge to scrap the controversial targets and give local councils the power to set their own figures if the Conservatives win the next general election.

Currently, the draft Regional Spatial Strategy going before the Secretary of State for communities and local government states that a total of 48,100 new dwellings will be built in the region between now and 2026.

The target would already mean the disappearance of most of Bournemouth's remaining green belt and thousands more homes on countryside and other controversial sites.

But there are real fears that Ms Blears could decide to increase the figure - a move that campaigners claim would ruin South East Dorset.

Once Ms Blears has issued the numbers, they will be subject to a further period of consultation. But with that scheduled for the summer, when Parliament is in recess, councillors believe this next month is absolutely vital.

Cllr Nick King, Bournemouth's cabinet member for communications, said: "We've got lots of different types of communities in South East Dorset that are quite unique in their characteristics.

"But much of what is being proposed here is trying to turn the whole of South East Dorset into one big homogenous suburbia, without any infrastructure or resources."

And Bournemouth Cllr Ron Whittaker, who represents Throop and Muscliff ward where a further 1,500 homes are earmarked, said: "Life is going to be made a misery if we don't get this development right. I know each individual local authority will have its own specific arguments but it is vital we join together to fight for proper funding from government."

A spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "No final decisions have been taken yet. Despite current short-term housing market conditions, our population is ageing and more people are living alone, which means new households are growing faster than new homes.

"If more homes are not built, house prices will get worse and the next generation will have nowhere to live."