A "CACK-handed" design for a four-storey block of flats has been rejected by Bournemouth council.

The scheme by JDM Homes Ltd for the site at 20-22 Tregonwell Road has received heavy criticism from the town's civic society in its submission to town planners.

Aside from the above description, John Soane, the society's built environment consultant, said the proposed block would be "a building of exceptional clumsiness that would in no way harmonise with the adjacent townscape".

Council planning officer Tom Hubbard concurred, stating in his report that "the overall impact will be of a disjointed and poor design that will be harmful to the character and appearance of the area".

In a planning statement the developer claims its design reflects the character of the existing building on the site - a pair of semi-detached properties in use as a house in multiple occupation - which would be demolished.

It says: "The design of the building will reflect the character of the road, and also incorporates many features, including front entrance feature, which reflects the intricate detail surrounding the existing entrance, of cornices, pillars etc."

The existing building was previously in use as a hotel but according to the council has been in unauthorised use as an HMO for more than 10 years.

The proposed block would have contained six one-bed flats and five two-bed flats with underground parking for seven vehicles.

The council report also expresses some concern over the size of the proposed flats and the amount of light residents would receive.

Meanwhile Jonathan Coleman-Zheng, owner of the nearby Blue Palms Hotel, said in his submission that a lack of parking is a major issue in the area.

"A minimum of one car per housing unit would be a more realistic car ownership figure," he said.

"Two bedroom flats in Tregonwell Road are currently being marketed for £375,000.

"As a neighbouring hotel owner, I know from our own parking issues that there is zero available on-street parking in the Tregonwell Road area."

Council officers rejected the scheme under delegated powers, citing its scale and "disjointed and poor quality" design as "unsympathetic" to the street scene.