PLANS for a farm site on the edge of Weymouth would be creating an industrial estate in the wrong location, claims a parish council.

But planning officer Robert Burden is recommending that West Dorset District Council planners back the application for a change from agricultural to industrial and storage use at Icen Farm's buildings.

In a report for the council's development control committee meeting tomorrow, he states that approval would allow control over the operating days and hours of employment use already under way at the farm in Bincombe.

Winterbourne Farringdon Parish Council objects to the application, stating it "cannot support consent for what is effectively an industrial estate in this wholly unsuitable location".

Parish councillors were concerned about access along Icen Lane, describing it as a narrow and twisting rural lane with one-way restriction at one end and a low railway bridge and congested residential street at the other.

They were also worried that external lighting at the farm would affect people living nearby.

But Mr Burden states that applicant Michael Jones already has 10 certificates of lawfulness for use covering buildings on the site.

They could allow work including woodwork, repair workshops, food preparation, offices and storage to operate round the clock seven days a week. Appeals are also in the pipeline for other uses.

Mr Burden states that the problems with access would be improved if the proposed Weymouth Relief Road got the go-ahead. He writes: "If constructed, this route, which passes right next to the application site, would include improved highway and pedestrian provisions."

The new road's presence would also affect the setting of the site, which is currently outside the defined development boundary.

He states that the site is only a modest distance of 165 metres from the boundary and adds: "This fact, coupled with the realistic prospect of the relief road scheme would significantly undermine the strength of arguing the development is in an unsuitable location."

He is recommending that committee members delegate authority to the director of planning to approve subject to conditions.