BCP Council (Bournemouth): Neil McKeon has successfully secured planning permission for the erection of a 5-storey residential development in the West Cliff and Poole Hill Conservation Area, following the demolition of the existing hotel. The site has a fantastic location at the end of West Cliff Gardens with full views out across the cliff top gardens to the sea.
This approval follows two previous outline planning applications and a subsequent appeal hearing dating back to 2019 for our client, AJ Developments Ltd. Whilst the appeal was dismissed, it was invaluable in overcoming a number of the LPA’s objection to the site’s redevelopment and the loss of the hotel – which has remained closed since lockdown of last year.
The revised application underwent an extensive negotiation process with Officers to ensure the character and appearance of the conservation area was safeguarded, as well as the privacy and amenity of surrounding apartment buildings in West Cliff Gardens. The plans (designed by ARC Architects) were revised during the application in order to further enhance the architectural quality of the development and how this related to the conservation area. The revisions also protected the key public view from West Cliff Gardens through to the seafront via the adjacent public footway. In addition, S106 Affordable Housing provided the viability assessment which justified a zero affordable housing financial contribution on the site.
Whilst the Officers fully supported the revised proposal, the application was brought before September’s planning committee due to the number of objections received. Neil provided the deputation to members on the day and the application was approved with a vote of 12:1 in favour.
The approval represents a substantial collaborative effort between PTP, consultees and Officers to address the previous objections and concerns of prior applications and finally come to an agreed position for the successful redevelopment of this hotel site, delivering a high quality residential scheme in the conservation area, with much sought after views to the seafront.
If you have a site which may have potential for residential redevelopment which we could assess, please contact us at Pure Town Planning on 01202 585524, or email info@puretownplanning.co.uk for a confidential planning appraisal.