ONE of Bournemouth's unlisted 'heritage assets' has been spared demolition.

The town's planning board has rejected a bid to demolish the 1920s warehouse at 3 Wickham Road and build a block of 10 flats.

Although the building in Pokesdown currently lacks formal protection, it has been designated as a heritage asset in the Boscombe and Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan, which is due to come into force soon.

Officers had recommended approval for the application by European Emerging Markets Ltd, saying the site was unlikely to prove attractive to businesses in its residential setting.

At a meeting on Monday, planning officer Simon Gould said: "We don't feel that there is sufficient weight to refuse an application purely on the basis of the loss of the existing building, and given the impact and scale of the existing building in the context, we feel that the replacement building will be acceptable."

He said the replacement building, described as an "outrage" to architecture by the town's civic society, was slightly smaller than the existing warehouse and would allow more light to enter neighbouring properties.

The board was addressed by Pat Cox of Pokesdown Community Forum, who said: "The residents and Pokesdown Community Forum were massively in favour of retaining the building with the lower floor being used for new tech studios and workshops with two and three bedroomed, good size, family apartments above."

She added: "Pokesdown does not need another problem block of flats."

Board member and ward councillor Gina Mackin said: "I think it is a great shame this has been rushed through, especially when we have been working on the Neighbourhood Plan for a long time.

"I don't believe it's been marketed right for anyone to consider purchasing it. I feel it would be a massive loss of this historic building."

Cllr Philip Stanley-Watts said the existing building was "part of the history of the area" and proposed the scheme be refused on the basis of loss of employment space and its heritage status.

Members voted seven in favour with three abstentions.