ONE hundred new flats proposed for a Bournemouth town centre car park will set ‘a new benchmark’ for the quality of rented accommodation available locally.

That’s the claim from Bournemouth council as it outlines plans to build on the Berry Court car park as part of the town centre master vision.

The proposals, which will go before cabinet on Wednesday, are for 100 flats and a 228-space multi-storey car park.

The draft business case suggests one-bedroom flats will cost around £655 per month, two-bedroom flats around £880 and £1,037 for a three-bedroom property.

The flats are going to be marketed to ‘pre-family singles’ and professionals who want to live in the town centre and are expected to meet demand from people who are either saving towards a mortgage or who do not want to commit to buying.

If approved by cabinet, a full planning application will be submitted this year and construction work should start in June 2015.

The flats and car park will be built by Morgan Sindall, which is the council’s partner in the Bournemouth Development Company.

Leader of the council John Beesley said: “The first developments at Madeira Road and Leyton Mount are nearing completion, with the Citrus Building’s show home already attracting significant attention from potential buyers.

“Bournemouth is starting to reap the rewards of the Bournemouth Development Company. With the addition of Berry Court, we are entering the next phase of development which will mean we can accelerate our delivery of new homes.

“These are urgently needed, but we will not lose public parking which is so vital to the town’s economy.”