A DEVELOPMENT of flats is beginning to take shape at the site of a demolished health centre now rife with crime.

Three blocks with a total of 74 flats are being built at land between Knole Road and Knyveton Road at the former David Lloyd site.

It is an area identified by Dorset Police for having long suffered from crime and disorder problems.

Juno Developments Ltd - the applicant - was granted permission for a four-five storey block of 29 flats, a four-four storey of 17 flats and a five-six flats of 28 flats with bin and cycle storage, access for vehicles and underground car-parking.

There will be 35 one-bedroom, 37 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats.

John Green, crime prevention and design advisor of Dorset Police, wrote to the planning officer with concerns over security measures at the development.

In his letter he said: "This is going to be a very open site in an area that has identified crime and disorder problems, particularly the antisocial behaviour of drink and drug users and prostitutes.

"Our current advice would be that the communal doors should be linked to all the units with an audio visual entry phone linked to an electronic door release, preferably with additional CCTV recording main doors and the communal areas."

The David Lloyd site closed nearly 10 years ago. At the time, members of the health club gathered in force to fight the closure, angered after owners Whitbread promised to invest £400,000 in the centre to keep it open less than a year before.

In 2009 the centre was demolished and, since that time, has become significantly overgrown with plants and hedges.

The site was previously home to the 10-bedroom Linden Hall Boarding Establishment, opened in 1890 by the owner Mr Exton. Between 1893 and 1903 it increased to 100 bedrooms through additional extensions.

His son, Leo Exton, took over the site in 1918 when his father died. In 1934 it became the Linden Hall Hydro Hotel, with a swimming pool and sports stadium, and grew to 120 bedrooms with a garage for 70 cars.