A CHURCH'S plans to build a training facility for homeless people have been rejected by the council.

Breath of Life Faith Ministries had sought planning permission to use an industrial unit at 20 Wharfdale Road, Westbourne, to provide 66 hours a week of skills and employment training to the homeless, as well as older adults.

Under the plans the site would also be used as a place of worship by the church outside office hours.

However, planning officers have concluded that it would be an unacceptable loss of employment space, and rejected the scheme under delegated powers.

In a letter to the borough, applicant Toyin Fakorede said: "In the past, we have hired various venues for our meetings and training sessions, since we do not own a centre, but it has been very difficult to keep up with the logistics, running cost and availability of these venues.

"We have several volunteers and professional trainers both within and outside Bournemouth who have trained and empowered several people.

"Our target is to train 500 locals annually."

The scheme saw seven letters submitted in support praising the church's charitable work, and claiming it has had difficulty identifying a suitable alternative building.

However, there were also three letters objecting to the scheme, stating concerns over the loss of an employment site and problems parking in the area.

In their conclusion, officers said: "It is considered that the proposed change of use to D1 (training facility and place of worship) would result in the loss of a good sized and

modern unit which is allocated for employment use.

"It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that there is no demand for the re-use of the unit for B1, B2 or B8 employment uses.

"The proposal would compromise the integrity of the Wharfdale Road employment area and prejudice the long term employment requirements of the borough."