A SET of garages in Poole, close to the railway line, could be demolished to make way for a three-storey building with nine affordable single-bed flats.

The new homes are being proposed for Poole Housing Partnership on the site of 22 garages to the rear of 190-196 Egmont Road on the Turlin Moor estate.

Most of the garages (18) are let to local residents although four are void and one is leased to a person in London. Of the 18 contacted to allow access ten declined.

A planning application to BCP Council says that only three of the garages are currently being used to park a car and that the site is surrounded by flats and terraced houses with the main Waterloo-Weymouth rail line to the south just 10m away.

Documents with the application claim that by using thicker glass in the block and with a 6-16mm air gap between panes noise levels within the proposed flats should be ‘acceptable’ as judged by British Standards.

Agents argue that the site would be better used for housing, than garages: “Presently the site offers little to the local area, indeed the existing back of development garage block could be viewed as a potential source of antisocial behaviour and neglect, although at present it is well maintained,” said a statement submitted with the planning papers.

Comments on the application remain open until mid-October. To date there has been no response to the advertised plans.