The new chairman of Poole’s planning committee has hit out at the grant of planning permission for a care home.

After a five-year battle by Metnor to build a much-needed care home on the former Poole Pottery factory site at Sopers Lane, it was granted on appeal.

The inspector decided that the 80-bed home, which would provide beds for dementia patients and employment for around 70 people, was acceptable on employment land.

But Cllr Phil Eades, chairman of Borough of Poole’s planning committee said: “The whole planning process in Poole is dismayed by this decision.

“We have consistently refused planning permission for a care home on industrial land at this location and to have our decision overturned by an outsider is a kick in the teeth for Poole’s planning process.

“We make our decisions on sound planning grounds and these have been overridden by an inspector from Bristol.”

The council deemed the application overbearing and said the site was vital brownfield land needed for employment.

The inspector said the home would be largely self-contained and would cater for nearly all occupiers needs, and the loss of slightly less than a hectare of employment land was “neither here nor there”.

Cllr Eades added: “This encourages my long held view that planning decisions should be made and stay locally and that the government should change the planning process at an early juncture to ensure that elected local councillors have the final say as to what should be built and where in their towns.”