PLANS for a new builders' merchant on a derelict site in Boscombe are set to be approved – despite concerns about road safety.

The application from Travis Perkins for the former coal yard site in Ashley Road would deliver a £9million investment when complete and create up to 25 new jobs in its first five years.

However, it has been called in by Boscombe East and Pokesdown ward councillors George Farquhar and Andy Jones

The proposal is due to go before BCP Council's planning committee on Thursday, February 17, with a local authority officer recommending that members grant the scheme.

A statement submitted as part of the application said it is a "priority development" for the business and would lead to the closure of the Windham Road branch.

The planning statement, produced by Quod, said: "Given the lack of alternatives and the pressing commercial need to relocate from Windham Road, the freehold of the site was acquired unconditionally."

It added: "The site will be comprehensively redeveloped to facilitate a new layout, introduce safer vehicle movements and construct a new, modern commercial unit that will meet TP’s current and future operational requirements."

The coal yard site has been vacant and unused for almost 25 years.

In 2018, the former coal yard site was subject to outline approval for redevelopment into dozens of homes, however, this permission has elapsed.

Following concerns that the existing site access would not by support by the council's highways department, Travis Perkins's plans include a new access 30 metres south of the existing site entrance.

If the proposal is approved, the existing access would be permanently closed.

Cllr Jones made a formal request for the case to be called in on grounds relating to risk to public safety from increased HGV and commercial van traffic given the proximity of the site to King's Park Academy and the loss of residents' parking in North Road.

These concerns were echoed by Cllr Farquhar, according to a planning committee report by officer Franc Genley.

The report said BCP Council's highways department had no objections subject to set conditions after the applicant had revised its initial plans.

"This scheme would deliver an acceptable sui generis use employment use, contributing to the local economy by way of construction phase jobs; permanent employment for staff working at and serving the new use; and financial contributions to the local economy by way of rate payments, provision of services to support the local building trade, including the public," the officer's report says.