SHOCK has greeted news that thousands of homes could be going up in one of Dorset's most important green belt areas.

And around 700 of those could be built at a site in Corfe Mullen where, just three weeks ago, a government inspector turned down a scheme for 12 homes.

Politicians have expressed dismay at the proposed loss of the green belt the 3,000 projected homes would bring and have concerns about lack of infra-structure.

The report proposes to build around 900 homes at Parley Cross, 800 in North Wimborne and at Cuthbury, 700 at Pardy's Hill, Corfe Mullen and 600 at Roeshot Hill, Christchurch.

Cllr John Wilson, who represents West Parley, said the move had come as a surprise to him.

"People do have to live somewhere but at the end of the day it's not all that far away from Parley Cross traffic lights which is intolerably over-burdened at the moment," he told the Echo.

"I'm not keen but if we absolutely have to have it we must have the infrastructure first."

Cllr Janet Dover's patch is not specifically earmarked in the study being considered by the regional assembly, but locals are so worried that land between Stapehill and Colehill could be used that they have started a petition.

"I'm passionately against it," Cllr Dover said.

"There are parts of the country that need the regeneration but we haven't got the infrastructure."

Alan Perry, of Pardy's Hill, whose scheme was turned down, welcomed the move, however.

"I have been trying for ten years to get affordable houses built for Corfe Mullen people and I was giving them the land on a 999 year lease," he said.

Mr Perry added that youngsters had nowhere to live.

"Corfe Mullen has four council estates but there's hardly any housing left," he added.