PLANS for a block of flats at a car park that have sparked dozens of objections are to set to be approved by civic chiefs next week.

Members of Bournemouth council’s planning committee will vote upon the proposals to build a four-to-five storey block of 44 flats at Durley Road car park, with bin and cycle stores and parking, at Monday’s meeting (JUN 19).

The officer has recommended that the Bournemouth Development Company’s application is granted.

The Bournemouth Development Company is a public-private partnership between Bournemouth Borough Council and Morgan Sindall Investments.

There has been particular focus by objectors about the block being built on one of the town’s central car parks which has been so since the 1960s.

BDC’s proposal includes 44 flats made up of 12 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats with 41 parking spaces and room for 44 bicycles.

Parents of neighbouring St Michael’s School complained about parking during school drop-off and pick-up times being affected as a result of the development. A survey was carried out to establish how many parents used the car park, in association with the local highway authority.

The consultation sparked wide complaints from parents who argued that the questions imitated that the decision over the development had already been made, forcing Trevor Sills, transportation development manager, to apologise for the wording of the survey.

Part of the officer’s report indicated that Avenue Road car park could be used as an alternative, as well as West Hill car park which is already used by parents.

But as part of a drive by the school to decrease traffic in light of increasing pupil numbers, a survey showed that car journeys had increased marginally – from 175 to 182 from January 2012 to January 2017 – despite student numbers rising from 451 to 656. The number of children walking had increased also, from 227 to 418.

Fifty-five letters of objection have been received citing issues with the loss of the public car park, the impact of tourism, highway safety and overshadowing.