MORE than 50 people have already lodged opposition to revised plans for the £200m Sandbanks Hotel scheme.

Businessman Richard Carr is behind proposals to transform the Haven Hotel into an apartment complex, the Sandbanks Hotel into a new 185-bed roomed hotel, and the Harbour Heights into a 38-apartment hotel and spa.

Thousands of people objected to the scheme, last year, in particular the element of the project involving the Haven Hotel.

The proposals have been lodged on behalf of the owner of all three properties, FJB Hotels' John Butterworth.

Last year Borough of Poole (BOP) received more than 2,300 objections to the scheme as it stood then.

The most contentious element was the ten-storey building and residential complex of up to 260 properties planned for the Haven Hotel site.

Revised plans, currently available to view on the borough's online planning portal, are for a complex of 119 apartments at the Haven site. The tallest building now is just six-storeys high which, according to Mr Carr, is no taller than the current hotel.

However, 52 people have already submitted letters of opposition to the overall scheme, with four people neither against nor supporting, and just two people writing in support.

Objector Tony Thomas, of Flaghead Road, Poole, told BOP planners: “My objection to the redevelopment of the three sites is mainly based upon the revised proposals for the Haven Hotel.

“While the three hotels have lacked the necessary investment over many years, they are iconic and a large part of the heritage of the Sandbanks peninsula. We will lose the Haven Hotel facilities to residential use.”

Meanwhile, James Webb, of South Western Crescent, Poole, objecting to the Haven Hotel aspect said: “The height of the proposal is unacceptable in terms of the way this will be the only building on the peninsula that breaks and comes some way over the tree line.”

Dr Stephen Wood, of Pearce Avenue, Poole, described the revised proposals as worse than the previous.

He added: “This proposal is grossly out of character with the surroundings and this area of natural beauty.”

After lodging the revised plans earlier this month, Mr Carr said: "We have paid particular attention to the neighbours of the Haven Hotel and their objections and I'm hoping the new drawings will appease most of the people who had meaningful objections.

"It is a simple as this, to do nothing is not a choice. If the shareholders of the FJB group were to do nothing then the Harbour Heights, the Sandbanks and the Haven Hotel would end up as two star venues.

"In particular the Haven Hotel has a structural life that is coming to an end.

"I am hoping the new drawings should appease most of the objectors."