PLANS to redevelop an “underutilised” Wimborne garage site into five homes have been approved.

Dorset Council has granted permission for the development, despite objections from neighbours of the Gordon Road plot.

Submitted at the end of last year by Synergy Housing, part of the Aster Group, the application sought permission to demolish the 22 garage to make way for housing.

As well as building a terrace of five two and three-bedroom homes, in a planning statement it said it would keep 15 of the garages which are currently in use.

“The garage occupancy rate in recent years has been low,” it said. “The garages lack lighting and power and are of a size which is too tight for many modern cars.

“The site is underutilised with current vacancies totalling 22 out of a possible 37 and has a long history of underoccupancy.”

It said revenue from the development would be “fed back into the company to support the construction and improvement of affordable housing”.

Five people objected to the application, raising concern about the ability of services in the town to cope with the increased population created by developments in the pipeline.

Among them were David and Amanda Maidment who said: “There are lots of proposals being agreed to split accommodation, building in back gardens and now building in car parks and garage blocks.

“I accept that people need housing but the ad hoc approval of these planning applications is changing the character of our town and it’s not an improvement to the area.”

Despite this, planning officer Elizabeth Adams said there were no “clear” reasons to refuse permission for the development.

“The proposed development will contribute to housing supply in east Dorset,” she said.

“Residential amenities of neighbouring occupiers would not be demonstrably harmed by the new dwellings and the parking and access arrangements are adequate.”

The application was approved on Tuesday, May 28.