PLANS to convert a large home in a wealthy area of Bournemouth into five flats have been rejected.

The property, at 45 Richmond Park Avenue, Queen's Park, is currently in use as a two-bedroom ground floor flat and four-bedroom upper floor flat.

The new scheme would have seen two two-bed and three one-bed flats built within the detached Arts and Crafts style house, renovation of the property and driveway and parking on-site.

There were numerous objections from neighbours.

Cllr David Kelsey, chairman of the planning board, said the application was rejected as "the board felt it was overdevelopment of a very small site, and there were also parking issues".

According to the planning statement prepared on behalf of applicant 'Mr P Richards' by Trinity Architecture, the scheme would have five parking spaces, topping the requirement of four under council guidelines.

It states: "There is plentiful provision for on-street parking."

However this was disputed by many residents of Richmond Park Avenue and neighbouring St Alban's Avenue who wrote to the council to object.

Natasha Harlow said: "Parking is a massive problem in my road and the surrounding roads when AFC Bournemouth are playing.

"It's highly congested and dangerous due to football traffic. One parking space per flat is not enough.

"Most people live with at least one other person and they all own cars that need a designated space that is off the road."

Oliver Coomber said: "Flats have become a feature of the wider borough, mainly due to the limited development space of new large housing sites.

"It should not be considered good policy to reduce the number of family homes which the area was originally intended and is maintained as to this day."

Meanwhile, Trevor Hebron, another Richmond Park Avenue resident, said walking down the road to the park was a "challenge" due to "dense on-street parking and rat-run".

"The proposed 'shoe-horning' of enough new cars and residents to fill an apartment block into what was once a fine single family residence is hardly likely to improve that situation," he said.

"This proposal seeks to provide a quality of development that is sympathetic in terms of its scale, character, materials and layout and is entirely appropriate to the surrounding area," the application states.

"The proposal is compatible with an established pattern of development within the area, and the setting of buildings and their occupants are respected."