COUNCIL plans to build on two Bournemouth car parks have been submitted for approval.

The Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) - a partnership between the borough and Morgan Sindall Investments - has proposed to build a block of 44 flats on the Durley Road car park in West Cliff, and two buildings with 49 flats on the town centre St Stephen’s Road car park.

The plans form part of the council’s ‘town centre vision’, which has thus far seen BDC developments constructed at Horseshoe Common and in Madeira Road, with the aim of making the area “even better, more competitive and renowned as a place of high quality”.

In Durley Road, the new development would be a six storey block with a mixture of one, two and three bed flats ranging “from starter homes to penthouse style units”, the application states, along with 46 parking spaces.

BDC says the building will improve the character of the area, which is part of the West Cliff and Poole Hill Conservation Area, and will “read as an intellectual statement of architecture and design”.

“The quality of the modern and contemporary elevational design will provide a strategically important, viable and attractive scheme to a poorly utilised margin of Durley Road South and create a memorable building at this key approach to the town centre,” the application states.

A consultation revealed concern from residents about the loss of public parking and the knock-on effect on nearby unrestricted roads, many of which are at full capacity even outside the holiday season. The car park is also used by parents picking up youngsters from St Michael’s School.

“This will be addressed by additional capacity being provided at the West Hill car park in accordance with Development Plan policy,” BDC says.

A report by consultants Bellamy Roberts found the car park had “fairly low demand levels” except during school pickup periods.

The St Stephen’s Road site sits opposite the Grade I listed St Stephen’s Church, on a site currently used for daytime parking by council workers and during evening and weekends by the public.

It would have 49 parking spaces for residents. The application lists alternative parking sites for current users, including Braidley Road, the Square NCP and Richmond Hill.

BDC also has planning permission for a block of 113 flats on the Berry Court car park in St Peter’s Road.