DEVELOPER Richard Carr has said Bournemouth council must “wake up and smell the coffee” after rejecting his flats plan.

The scheme by Fortitudo Property would have seen the demolition of five houses at The Green in Branksome Hill Road to make way for a four storey block of 40 flats, with 28 two-bed and 12 three-bed units.

Mr Carr told the Daily Echo that he would appeal against the decision and would seek costs from the council if victorious.

“It is no accident that we happened to put that amount of density on that site, it is all about economics,” he said.

“To make the deal work we need that density. The planning authority need to wake up and smell the coffee.

“If they want developers to develop in Bournemouth they need to help us. Otherwise we will go to other boroughs which are more accommodating.

“We recently went to a meeting with the chief executive of Southampton council, whose opening comment was ‘developers, we need you’.

“Bournemouth has said ‘developers, go away’.”

The Fortitudo plans received nearly 150 objections from residents, backed by ward councillors Andrew Morgan and Philip Broadhead.

Planning officers criticised the proposed block for its “utilitarian appearance” which was “commercial rather than domestic”, and said it would harm the Meyrick Park & Talbot Woods Conservation Area.

However, Mr Carr said the council had “succumbed to Nimbys” in the face of “a massive shortage of family homes”. Also, he said the site had been granted outline planning permission for a block of 53 flats in 1999.

“I find it astonishing they have obviously given in to what I can only call Nimbys in the locality,” he said.

“It is unfortunate in light of the shortage of housing in the borough.

“We will be appealing this decision. I intend to try and get this to a full hearing represented by a leading QC.

“If the council lose it is going to cost a substantial sum of money.”

Cllr David Smith, cabinet member for planning, said: “We want to work with developers to get the right schemes in the right places, and we always invite developers to come in to discuss their schemes before they submit a formal application.

“Judging by the sheer number of developments going ahead in Bournemouth, it shows this town is open to business.”