PROPERTY consultant Richard Carr has seen his proposals for an eight-storey apartment complex overlooking Poole’s Holes Bay agreed by planning chiefs.

Salterns Marina Limited wants to build 57 apartments and a number of commercial units on a site at West Quay Road, which is part of Poole’s long-standing Regeneration Area.

Borough of Poole’s planning committee gave the green light to the project at a Civic Centre meeting earlier this week, despite a number of groups voicing their opposition to the plans.

Poole Quay Forum argued the building - a part eight, part five-storey design - was ‘unacceptably prominent’ and represented overdevelopment of the site.

Meanwhile, the Hamside Residents Association objected on the grounds the development meant the loss of an employment site and was too large in scale.

Building work on the latest apartment complex is now scheduled to start later this year.

Mr Carr said: “I’m pleased to have received planning for this development and hope to have now set a trend for more iconic buildings to be delivered along this industrial waterfront.

“Let’s set Poole apart from competing towns.”

It is hoped Poole’s Regeneration Area will eventually deliver around 2,500 new homes, new office space and new retail and leisure developments.

Mr Carr said: “The good thing about this scheme is that Poole council has allowed us the opportunity to create homes for those who are seeking to get on the housing ladder.

“Our ‘studio pod’ apartments are perfect for first time buyers and will be mixed in with other apartments of varying sizes.

“I would like to thank architects Anders Roberts Cheers and planning consultants Pure Town Planning for their help and also Poole Planning Committee for giving approval. It is a step in the right direction for the region.”