PROPOSALS to construct industrial buildings at land south of Magna Road will be decided by Poole planning chiefs on Thursday.

The scheme, to deliver up to 16,000 square metres of employment floorspace for light industrial use, has been lodged by WH White Ltd.

It was flagged up for discussion at committee by Merley and Bearwood Cllr Marion Pope, who is concerned the latest application is not consistent with the decision of a planning inspector in 2014.

She believes the inspector ruled development should be restricted to 16,000 square metres, but the appeal site at the time of that decision was significantly larger than today's 5.1 hectare plot.

Borough of Poole (BOP) has already resolved to grant planning permission to build 324 dwellings on adjacent land, which will also be accessed from Magna Road.

Public consultation on industrial usage, which took place alongside the application for the housing scheme, prompted a mixed response - with concerns raised regarding transport impacts, loss of open space and areas of nature conservation, noise and disturbance.

Neighbour David Birch, of Sopwith Crescent, Merley, who is opposed to the industrial development and the new housing, said: "Has anybody given any thought to traffic congestion? Queen Ann Drive, Magna Road and the Bear Cross roundabout are already over capacity.

"Poole Hospital is straining to manage with the increasing number of people."

He continued: "If the proposed developments go ahead - and I am sure they will as the council never take any notice of residents' concerns - Poole and Bournemouth will just become one big urban sprawl. Or is that the plan?"

Meanwhile, Countess Close resident Duncan Ellis, in a letter lodged with BOP's planning department, also outlined concerns over proposals to develop land south of Magna Road.

Mr Ellis fears Magna Road simply is unable to cope with the "massive amount of traffic this and other applications would bring between Bearwood and Wimborne."

A report from planning case officer, James Gilfillan, to members of BOP's planning committee recommends the employment land scheme should be granted.

This report concludes: "The principle of the application is consistent with the adopted development plan and comprises sustainable development.

"Furthermore the proposals are consistent with the council's preferred option for this land in the emerging Poole Local Plan."