Bournemouth tower plans set to advance

Plans for a 13-storey residential scheme in Bournemouth on the site of a former hotel look set to advance next week.Bayview Developments South is behind the application, which concerns land on Cambridge Road.The site was originally occupied by the Summerhayes Hotel, which appears to have been demolished in the late 1980s or early 1990s, and then used as a temporary car park.This was followed by long-term use as a highway materials and equipment storage area until 2016. It is now vacant and council-owned but will be sold to the developer.Full consent is sought to build a part-four and part-13 storey building comprising 100 apartments, with vehicular and pedestrian access also being brought forward.Of this total, 21 would be one-bed, 72 would be two-bed and seven would be three-bed.The applicant has not made a decision yet whether the units would be for sale or build to rent but did describe the plans as a “high quality landmark feature for the town centre skyline, creating an important arrival point along a key transport node”.A report drawn up ahead of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s planning committee meeting on 16 June said: “Having recognised the collective benefits of the proposed scheme and having regard to the tilted balance and presumption in favour of sustainable development, it is concluded that the proposals would achieve the economic, environmental and social objectives of sustainable development.”