BOROUGH of Poole's cabinet has agreed to set up a special team to oversee regeneration plans for the town centre and surrounding areas.

Cabinet also approved the submission of an outline business case to Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) to secure £5 million funding for vital infrastructure work at the Holes Bay site, where the former Hamworthy Power Station used to be.

Last week the Echo reported that a planning application, for 850 homes and a new public quay, had been lodged for the former power station site, which government has already designated as a housing zone.

BOP regeneration portfolio holder Cllr Ian Potter said: "The council is ambitious for Poole and wants to create a vibrant town centre where people want to live, work and play.

"A lot of positive progress has been made recently such as multi-million pound investment in Poole from central government and businesses plus key planning applications to boost housing, jobs and economic growth in the borough.

"There’s still a lot of work to be done but we are pleased with the current progress which clearly demonstrates the confidence key stakeholders have in the future of Poole."

A BOP spokesman said cabinet also noted "significant progress" in the past year to support town centre regeneration.

This included:

- Investment in the former power station site.

- The recent agreement with Legal & General to unlock £26 million investment in the town centre over the next 18 months.

- Empire Cinema signing a 25-year lease to open a nine-screen multiplex at the Dolphin Shopping Centre.

- Continuing refurbishment of Poole Bridge.

Julian McLaughlin, the authority's growth and infrastructure head, said: "The regeneration proposals for Poole town centre will provide significant benefits to local residents, businesses and visitors to the area.

"We will see the delivery of new homes, jobs and other facilities that will be required to help Poole prosper over the coming years.

"Indeed the area has already secured more than £120 million of business investment and with the development of further business improvement plans such as the port masterplan that looks to diversify into the cruise market, Poole has a very exciting future."