PLANS to build new beach huts at Canford Cliffs have been put on hold for a year, it has been confirmed.

Borough of Poole (BOP) announced its intention to build up to 140 new beach huts at Canford Cliffs Promenade and Flaghead Chine in 2015.

However, engineers now say the plans cannot go ahead in their current form.

BOP recreation and community manager Anthony Rogers explained: "The council remains committed to developing new beach huts but following ground surveys some further work is required to the design to ensure two-storey buildings can be constructed at Canford Cliffs.

"A revised proposal will be presented to members in September, after which a planning application will be submitted.

"To ensure we minimise disruption to our beach hut tenants while construction work is ongoing, subject to relevant permission being obtained, work will not start on site until September 2017."

Following the initial announcement that new huts were being built, the Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs Residents' Association, and the Poole Beach Huts Association backed the plans. However, both organisations expressed deep concerns about proposed rent increases to current beach hut users.

It had been proposed that some of the new huts would be built on top of the existing huts at Canford Cliffs Promenade and Flaghead Chine, while others would be constructed in spaces at the same sites.

Despite this latest hold-up, elements of the original beach hut project are continuing, with six new huts currently under construction at Sandbanks.

BOP also aims to submit planning applications shortly for five huts at Flaghead Chine and four huts at Branksome Dene. Work on these nine buildings is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.