PLANS to convert several farm buildings in Winterborne Stickland into a business park have been approved.

A North Dorset District Council planning officer granted outline permission for Bryanston (RFE)’s scheme for the redevelopment of the “redundant” structures at Normandy Farm.

The move was made despite the scheme being opposed by Winterborne Stickland Parish Council which said there would be a “significant detrimental impact” on the village.

As well as converting a number of the farm’s buildings, the application also allows for the milking parlour to be demolished and replaced.

A statement submitted with the planning application says that the proposals were part of a strategy to make more efficient use of the farm.

“The fundamental aim is to secure an outline planning permission that is suitably flexible to enable the development to come forward in a phase manner over time as users for the business units are identified,” it said.

“This will effectively ‘prime’ the site and present an attractive proposition to prospective tenants who will be reassured that suitable premises can be provided at Normandy Farm that meets their specific requirements and that it can be delivered in a timely manner.”

It added that that “numerous” informal requests have been made for business units on the site in the past.

The application was opposed by Winterborne Stickland Parish Council which said it was likely there would be a “significant detrimental impact” on the village which would “change its rural feel”.

However, council planning officer Hannah Smith grant planning permission for the development.

“The benefits of creating jobs, reusing redundant farm buildings and enhancing the setting of a non-designated heritage asset weigh in favour of this scheme,” she said. “There is no identified highway or other harm that would outweigh these benefits.”

She added that the developer had an expression of interest from a physiotherapist which wanted to move onto the site.