PLANNING chiefs have given the green light for a £70 million development which will transform the waterside alongside Poole’s Twin Sails Bridge.

The complex on land at West Quay Marina will include 291 residential apartments, 874 sqm of commercial and retail floorspace - including a proposed restaurant - car parking, a quayside walkway and associated landscaping.

Buildings of varying height, from five to 10-storeys, will be included in the scheme.

Borough of Poole (BOP) planning committee chairman Peter Pawlowski said: “The committee warmly welcomed this well designed application with its strong reflection of Poole’s maritime history.

“It will make a major contribution to public realm including a public waterside quay and a courtyard, not to mention 291 much needed homes.”

The scheme has also been backed by Sunseeker co-founder Robert Braithwaite.

In a letter outlining his support for the project, Mr Braithwaite said: “The development will kick-start the regeneration of the waterfront between Twin Sails Bridge and RNLI to a very high standard.

“The development incorporates exemplary public open spaces and will commence a delightful promenade walkway which has potential to connect all the way to RNLI, should future developments come forward.”

The area, which was originally a timber yard and now houses industrial units, abuts the Poole-side entryway to the Twin Sails Bridge and is one of the most visually prominent development sites in the town.

It has been earmarked for regeneration for a number of years and in 2010 planning approval for a large mixed use scheme of 105 flats, offices, shops and a 182 hotel was granted - but has since lapsed.

This latest scheme designed by Calderpeel Architects for developers West Quay Developments (Poole) Ltd has emerged following a lengthy period of consultation with the council and residents, including the Poole Quay Forum (PQF), a 220-member community group.

However, PQF has voiced objections about the scale and some design elements of the proposal.