New units for Swanage industrial estate

The new development will consist of two blocks, one with three units and the other a single building.

This is the final plot at the business park - situated at the western edge of town - to be developed.

One neighbour, David Gerry, had written to the council opposing the new build - but members of Purbeck District Council's (PDC) planning committee opted to press ahead with the scheme.

Prospect Business Park represents a longstanding commitment by PDC to establish an employment site within the town, officials say. The land was first allocated for employment purposes in the 1991 Isle of Purbeck Local Plan.

However, Mr Gerry, of Prospect Crescent, has raised concerns about inadequate parking on site., resulting in problems overspilling into surrounding roads.

He said: "The result of inadequate parking provision leads to vehicles being parked half on the footway creating considerable difficulties and hazards for people using wheelchairs and buggies.

"And these disabled people will want to go to work or do business with the offices and works on the site.

"It is easy to say that it is already against the law to park on public footways, and it is also against the Highway Code, but local police are very reluctant to take action against bad parkers."

A report to committee members from council planning department case officer Cari Wooldridge stated: "Industrial development on this land has been proposed for a considerable period of time as a much-needed resource in order to bolster the employment base for Swanage, through the creation of new business as well as providing opportunities for existing businesses to remain in the locality and expand."

The report added the plot - plot five - was the most "obvious public face" of the business park.

It continued: "The scheme will maintain the high quality development at the business park which is particularly important given the entrance location of the plot and view of the plot from a wider area."