PROPERTY mogul Eddie Mitchell has announced his retirement from the building business - just as his long fought plans for the redevelopment of Sandbanks Pavilion have been approved.

Elite Skills Arena, the company part-owned by Mr Mitchell which is behind the new plans, has submitted three planning applications to Borough of Poole for the development of Sandbanks.

The first, which included a 3,900 seat arena, was submitted in December 2014 but withdrawn just months later.

A revised scheme included a smaller beach arena, 44 new beach huts, a new children’s play area, an outside classroom and sand dunes education area, a 3G multi use surface and a ticket office.

It was rejected at a planning meeting in April this year following objections from dozens of residents, Dorset Police, Dorset Wildlife Trust and the council’s own transport and environment bosses.

However last month another scheme to restore and extend the 1928 pavilion was finally approved by the council under delegated powers.

The proposals include the construction of 16 executive beach huts on top of the pavilion.

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Its approval has marked a life-long career goal for Mr Mitchell, who is determined to make a final mark in the borough by carrying out "necessary works to the tired beach huts" and "reinstating the pavilion to its former glory while preserving it for future generations".

Speaking to the Echo, he said: "The area is dilapidated and in need of repair. I know there are some people that are very anti-development anywhere on Sandbanks but in this case it is essential so Sandbanks can continue to thrive.

"It's a special place for me. I have lived and worked here most of my life. I want to see it returned to its former glory and I'm so proud that it will be my plans that will do it."

Mr Mitchell has told the Echo he has no plans to follow up the pavilion alterations with a major scheme to completely redevelop the entire beachfront - as he is leaving the building industry for good.

"This will be my last big project before I retire from the business.

"I have a new project that I'm working on, which is the new football skills arena and that will be my main focus from now on.

"I'm 62-years-old and have worked in the building business since I was 16 when I was working as a hod carrier - I think it's time for me to do something else."

At the age of 24 Mr Mitchell built his first property in Sandbanks - and since then he has built more than 100 homes in the area from Evening Hill to the tip of the Sandbanks peninsula.

When asked about his life of developing in the area, Mr Mitchell said he was aware that he has his critics.

His determination to succeed in the early years, and his unconventional design and builds throughout the 2000s have not always gained him support.

“I have had to grow broad shoulders, to be able to cope with the criticism,” he said.

In 1992 he established Seven Developments at a time when the property market had yet to emerge from a slump.

Seven Developments built and traded properties in the upmarket parts of Poole.

It became particularly well-known for its Thunderbirds House in Branksome Park, which went on the market for £4m a decade ago.

Other Seven Developments properties that attracted attention included two 16ft wide houses built just 10 inches apart on the site of a single property at Sandbanks.

In 2015 Nationwide Building Society stepped in to take back some properties owned by Seven Developments when they took over the loan on the properties.

Just days later Mr Mitchell had changed the name of his well-known Sandbanks business to Elite Skills Arena.

However it hasn't all been negative over the years. He has received a number of national and local awards for his architecture and designs.

"I have worked very hard to create a successful business and for that I am very proud, so I have no regrets in how I have approached business," he added.

"My only hope now is that I have the time left to accomplish my career by implementing the renovation of the centre piece of Sandbanks, the pavilion.

"Seeing these plans become a reality would be a great way to go out on a high."

Eddie's projects 

1. Thunderbirds house in Branksome Park

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The multi-million pound house inspired by the cult TV show Thunderbirds was built in 2005 in Branksome Park, Poole.

Its design was based on Tracy Island, the fictional headquarters of the International Rescue organisation.

When it first went on the market for £4m there were around 100 people lined up to view it including, it is alleged, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher.

It sold last year for £1.9million - half the original asking price.

2. Tom and Jerry houses

Bournemouth Echo: TIGHT FIT: Gary Berendt, realty consultant for Arlington and Hall, outside 3 Grasmere Road, where two small five-metre wide properties have been built, created by Eddie Mitchel

Two tiny 16ft wide houses were built just 10 inches apart on the site of a single property at Sandbanks. 

Named, Tom and Jerry, the small homes, in Grasmere Road, went on sale last year for £745,000 each.

Each home measured just 1,200 sq ft - half the size of a standard plot of land for a house.

3. Sandbanks Pavilion

Bournemouth Echo: REFUSED: Plans for the restoration of Sandbanks Pavilion have been rejected

After his proposal for Sandbanks pavilion was refused in April this year Eddie Mitchell unveiled a new, bigger, scheme for the area.

The plans incorporated many aspects of the rejected proposal but included a new information centre and lifeguard hub, an indoor soft play area and an underground multi-storey car park suitable for 555 vehicles.

It also proposed refurbishing the beach cafe as well as building a new beach bar and included a new bus and car drop-off area.

The plans were never submitted to the Borough Council.

4. Football training arena

Mr Mitchell's latest scheme is to build a £30,000 high-tech football training arena at Poole’s Whitecliff Park.

The arena would be made up of 60mm high aluminium panels in a 8m diameter circle, flanked all around by a 3m fence.

The idea is that a player stands in the middle, moving to hit targets that flash randomly on the panels using either their hands or a ball, triggering sounds and colour-changing lights when a target is hit.

It will be a permanent pay-as-you-play 360-degree footballing facility with interactive lights and sounds.

Mr Mitchell has now revealed three more proposed sites for these arenas. 

One would be alongside the parking area at Canford Magna Garden Centre in Magna Road, another at King's Park in Bournemouth and there is also an application in the offing for one at Pelhams Park in Bournemouth.