Three large industrial blocks could be built at Enterprise Park in Piddlehinton, near Dorchester, following the demolition of three Second World War buildings.

The parish council claims that the proposed units are too large and say there is no justification for expanding the site, with eight vacant units already being advertised.

It also claims that the new workspaces would generate unwelcome, extra traffic in the wider area.

Dorset councillors will decide next week on the application at an Area Planning Committee, due to take place in Sturminster Newton on May 16.

The parish council says it is supportive of economic development in the valley through small-scale units, and says that when considered together, the three proposed buildings would be longer than anything else on the site and would be clearly visible from public footpaths in the area.

Despite the parish views, a Dorset Council planning case officer is recommending approval of the proposal saying the design and general visual impact is acceptable and the units would create jobs, helping the local economy.

The site is part of the former parade ground at what was once Piddlehinton Army Camp, now known as Enterprise Park, with a mixture of former army buildings converted for modern uses and some larger, more recent units.

Previous policies for the site attempted to limit its use to smaller units, ideally by converting buildings already there, but this was relaxed in recent years after pressure from the government for councils to find more land for employment creation.

The three single-storey buildings proposed for demolition were all built by the army and total 333 square metres, while the replacement buildings would amount to 1,516 square metres with likely uses ranging from storage to general industrial or commercial activities.

The three blocks will be sub-divided into 14 smaller units, ranging from 88 to 145 square metres, which agents acting for the applicant say are likely to attract potential users.

The company behind the scheme, Goober Investments Ltd, say in their application to Dorset Council that each of the proposed units will be single storey.

A report to councillors by its planning team says that, at seven metres high, the design suggests that mezzanine floors could be added later, if needed.

Each is said to be a typical, modern portal framed, steel clad industrial building, similar to those recently added on the estate to the west of the application site.