PLANS have been unveiled to demolish a warehouse in Pokesdown and build a block of one-bedroom flats.

The site, at 71-81 Seabourne Road, currently houses wholesale fruit and veg merchants GC Produce, but the firm is looking to relocate to larger premises and plans to knock down its current building.

The proposed block would be four storeys in height with 22 flats.

A planning statement submitted by the firm states: "The requirements of the business are such that it receives a number of deliveries via both heavy and light goods vehicles on a daily basis.

"The existing buildings however cover much of the site and there is no yard associated with the business thus the delivering vehicles are forced to park along the public highway which causes congestion.

"The applicants consider that the existing business has outgrown its location north of Southbourne District Centre and moreover that the established lawful use is harmful to the adjoining properties.

"The use would be much more suited to a commercial estate.

"Given the surrounding pattern of uses, and following a period of marketing with no significant interest from potential occupiers, consent is sought for the redevelopment of the site."

The application says the firm engaged in discussions with council planning officers about the idea before submitting its plans.

GC Produce has been established within the Bournemouth area since 1947 and has operated from the Seabourne Road site for much of this time.

The application says the location makes the operation of the site for business use difficult, as vehicles have to turn in the narrow area of Seabourne Road, causing congestion.

It says that "not less than six (public parking) spaces are permanently occupied by the business at all times, however this volume of parking is unlikely to be sufficient to meet the needs of an alternative business use operating from a site of this scale, and certainly does not make the site an attractive proposition to prospective occupants".