AN EMPTY Branksome Park house whose roof was burnt off in an arson attack will not be bulldozed and replaced by a care home, an inspector has decided.

The large property at 11 Leicester Road, Poole was set alight in May.

Planning inspector John Wilde has now dismissed applicant Geometric Leicester Road Ltd’s two appeals, refusing permission for the building in a conservation area to be demolished and for a 59-bedroom care home to be built.

He upheld Borough of Poole’s decision to refuse planning permission, stating that the increased mass and bulk of the 1101 sq m building would have a significantly detrimental effect on the character of the area.

And he ruled it would have an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of the occupiers of a neighbouring property.

“The appellants argue that the appeal proposals would enhance the appearance of the conservation area by removal of the existing vandalised and derelict building with its unsympathetic additions,” said Mr Wilde in his report.

“However, I do not accept that it is necessary or desirable to construct a new building that would itself cause harm to conservation area interests in order to do this.”

Dismissing the appeal to demolish the 1928 house, he said: “Notwithstanding the vandalism that it has suffered, it still has a reasonable degree of significance in respect of its contribution to the appearance of the conservation area.”

Residents who opposed the application applauded the appeal decision and issued a statement through Robin Henderson of Ken Parke Planning Consultants, who represented them.

“The inspector’s decision gives the council the added strength to resist any further inappropriate and unsympathetic proposals at the site, and hopefully will encourage the owner to repair the fire-damaged house or replace it with a single attractive family home,” he said.