A vacant Poole Quay redevelopment site which has planning permission for apartments, can be used as a car park for another three years.

Borough of Poole’s refusal to allow an extension of the former grain silo site as a pay and display car park, has been overturned on appeal.

Planning inspector Colin Thompson accepted applicant Stanborough Developments case that the 64 apartments and two retail units were unlikely to go ahead ‘in the present economic downturn.

He said: “The temporary car parking option would at least allow some economic activity to take place.

“This would provide an income now, and give some incentive to keep the site in good order.”

Granting permission for 100 parking spaces for three years and awarding costs against the council for ‘unreasonable behaviour’ has incensed the chairman of the planning committee Cllr Phil Eades.

The land at the western end of the quay had a large derelict concrete warehouse building on it.

This was demolished in 2009 and the site, which falls within the Quay Conservation Area, was cleared.