FOURTH time lucky?

A new bid has been made in the long-running battle to develop the old Poole Pottery factory site on Sopers Lane.

Despite three previous rejections from Poole council, developer Metnor has come back with yet another application for a care home.

The plans have been scaled down to an 80-bed facility this time around – previous schemes have been for more than 100 beds.

But the same concerns that scuppered the previous proposals have already been voiced.

The loss of a vital brownfield site for creating jobs looks set to be the main stumbling block once more.

But residents have also raised their objections over parking and privacy issues.

Cllr John Rampton, who represents Creekmoor, said: “We cannot compromise one of our last big employment sites, nor can the town expand into green belt or SSSI.”

Sites such as Sopers Lane would be vital for jobs in the future, with 10,000 new homes needed in Poole by 2026, added Cllr Rampton.

After the most recent rejection in June, Metnor admitted the application for the Sopers Lane site was one of the most challenging they had worked on.

Gerald Hall, technical director at Metnor, stressed the home would only use the western end of the site and still leave room for an industrial development.

He said: “We have reduced the size of the scheme so the land could still be used for employment.”

A scaled-down home would also cause fewer traffic and parking headaches for residents, said Mr Hall.

“We feel we have found a solution that minimises the impact on everyone,” he added.

Operator Care UK is waiting to step in to run the care home should the application be granted.

Metnor, which co-owns the Sopers Lane site with Bridghouse Capital, said it was keen to start making returns on the land.