Consultation into quay community

Artist's impression of the new RYA building

The RYA is already planning a new training base

A public consultation has started into plans for a new community and Olympic leisure facilities in Dorset.

The South West Regional Development Agency has appointed a sustainable developer to build 70 eco-homes at Officer's Field, Osprey Quay.

The project could be delivered in 2011 and would include two electric cars provided to discourage car ownership.

A �4m new Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training base for the 2012 Olympic Games is already planned.

The facility will support the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy at Osprey Quay.

The consultation started on Saturday with a public exhibition of the plans at the Portland Heights Hotel.

The 4.61 acre (16,997 sq-m) site would protect an existing football pitch.

'Highly contentious'

Councillor Tim Munro, mayor of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council added: "This scheme is a vitally important key to unlocking the overall regeneration of Portland and will go a long way in meeting the housing needs of the future."

The housing development will use a biomass boiler to produce heat and power and solar thermal insulation.

Councillor Richard Denton-White from Portland Town Council and Leader of the Citizen party added: "The issue of the Officer's Field has been highly contentious on the island.

"The community have fought very hard to retain it as a public open space. We understand that there is now money available to beef up the leisure and sports use of this area and I... am delighted to see local people given a genuine opportunity to put forward their own ideas."