THE chief executive of the NHS trust hoping to build a new £8 million mental health facility for youngsters in Bournemouth has said he was “pleased” that councillors deferred a decision.

On Monday members of the council’s planning committee agreed that they were unable to determine Dorset HealthCare’s application without having visited the site.

Residents have raised concerns about the close proximity of the proposed centre to their homes and the impact it would have on their living standards and the dignity of patients.

However, the trust has said it has "no other option" but to build the new centre at Pebble Lodge.

It has said that the centre is needed to increase capacity for 12-18-year-olds facing "acute" mental illnesses in Dorset.

Councillors admitted it was a “difficult” decision before agreeing that the issues raised on both sides of the argument required them to see the site first-hand.

Planners at Bournemouth council had recommended that the application be refused – a move which would have seen the trust miss out on government funding of £8 million for construction and £3 million-a-year in running costs that has been earmarked for the new facility.

However, councillors agreed to defer a decision until they could visit the site.

Trust chief executive, Ron Shields, said it would be a “tragedy” if it was to miss out on the funding.

“We were very pleased that the councillors on the planning board understood the need for new mental health facilities for young people.

“Dorset HealthCare will do everything it can to work with the planning board and we look forward to them visiting the site.

“The facility has to be on this site because that is where the existing facility is and it would be a tragedy if the national money available for this development in Bournemouth were to be lost.

“If the development does not happen the money will be lost to Dorset and young people in Bournemouth will have to be accommodated long distances from their families.”

A site visit is due to take place on December 3, where councillors will also make a decision on whether or not to approve the application.