PLANS for a three-acre “final mile” parcel distribution warehouse in Poole have been submitted.

Developer St Modwen has brought forward new proposals for the Sterte Avenue West site weeks after it was given permission for three separate units.

It said the change followed interest from a company looking to establish a 24-hour local distribution centre in the area.

The land between the A350 and railway line is allocated in the Poole Local Plan for employment purposes.

It is undeveloped but has been cleared ahead of work on the site starting.

Just before Christmas, BCP Council approved the redevelopment of the site to house three industrial buildings.

But St Modwen has now submitted a new application for a single warehouse alongside a multi-storey van deck to meet the demands of an unnamed parcel delivery firm.

“The unit is designed to meet the requirements of a parcel delivery operator, including the range of loading solutions required by the fleet of light and heavy good,” a statement submitted with the plans says.

The proposal is for a facility of just under 11,500sqm, significantly smaller than the total 18,000 sqm floorspace of the previously-approved project.

St Modwen said this was to cater for the size and number of vehicles accessing the warehouse at all times of day and on every day of the year.

Alongside the warehouse it is proposed to build a multi-storey “van storage deck” with space to park 633 vehicles used by the would-be occupier for distributing parcels around the area.

Staff car parking spaces would total 137 while there will also be for 70 bicycles to be stored.

Nigel Pugsley, technical director for planning firm Terence O’Rourke, said there was “an urgent requirement” for such a facility in region.

“The delivery of this development will deliver significant economic benefits for the local area, including construction and operational jobs and business rate income,” he said.

St Modwen’s architect UMC Architects said the scheme was “high quality” and would “stimulate economic growth and local investment” through the creation of new jobs.

The application will be considered by council planning officers in the coming weeks.