UNCERTAINTY: The former Poole Pottery factory site on Sopers Lane
UNCERTAINTY once again surrounds the future of the former Poole Pottery factory site on Sopers Lane.
An appeal against the Borough of Poole's decision to refuse permission to build a 116-bed care home on the site was thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate.
Developer Metnor Property Group said the future of the prestigious site had now been thrown back up in the air following the knock-back of the care home proposals.
But Brian Ham, director at Metnor, said having bought the one-hectare plot, the company remained committed to the site.
He said: "We didn't particularly like the inspector's decision and are evaluating our options.
"Because we own the site, we have to bring something forward as we can't afford for it to stay empty."
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Metnor submitted plans for a three-storey care home and day centre with ancillary facilities and car parking.
Poole council turned down the application on the grounds the site is allocated as employment land.
“Because we own the site, we have to bring something forward as we can’t afford for it to stay empty.”
Brian Ham, director at Metnor
The development was not deemed suitable due to the limited nature of such land in the borough.
The planning inspector upheld the council's refusal on appeal, saying the pottery site represented a "substantial opportunity for redevelopment" not best served by the care home proposals.
"The proposed development would be significantly harmful to the supply of industrial land in Poole," said the inspector's report.
"The need for the type of care home that is intended to be provided is not pressing."
Peter Watson, head of planning design and control service at Poole council, said the Sopers Lane site was intended for buildings such as offices, warehouse space or research facilities.
He added that, based on the inspector's verdict, they could not support another application for a similar proposal.
The site has remained unused since the Poole Pottery factory closed suddenly in December 2006.
Obviously the inspector hasn't had to wait for someone already in a care home to die before one of his relatives can be given a place. This was the situation when my mother needed to go into care with advanced Alzheimers.
Obviously the inspector hasn't had to wait for someone already in a care home to die before one of his relatives can be given a place. This was the situation when my mother needed to go into care with advanced Alzheimers.
I'd rather have buildings that don't contribute to heavy traffic movements. There are too many Industrial estates in close proximity to this area already. There's plenty of space to build whatever, whenever. It's empty so build on it...
I'd rather have buildings that don't contribute to heavy traffic movements. There are too many Industrial estates in close proximity to this area already. There's plenty of space to build whatever, whenever. It's empty so build on it...
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