AN EMINENT architect has unveiled an alternative to a prime Poole town centre development site, whose current design has been slammed by residents as a “carbuncle”.

Former Poole resident Robert Adam, whose Winchester-based firm specialises in the design of traditional buildings, has come up with a new design for Neptune Developments between the bridges site.

Vision for Poole, made up of four residents’ groups, is opposing the West Quay application which includes six buildings of 373 apartments, a 12-storey plus roof garden landmark building, office and retail space.

“Poole desperately needs a good, well-designed, attractive and sustainable development on this major regeneration site, which is adjacent to the historic old town and quay,” said Bill Constance, chairman of Poole Old Town Conservation Group.

“This current application is totally inappropriate for an area with such huge potential,” he said.

“It is essential that this massive development complements the heritage and environment of Poole,” said Terry Stewart, chairman of the group.

“We demand that this development which will last 100 years, supports the pride we have in our historic borough.”

They are calling for the planning committee, which meets to discuss Neptune Consultants application on November 2, to turn down the “characterless buildings” which will “blight the Poole waterfront and set a dangerous precedent” for the other major regeneration sites.

Robert Adam said: “When I was a student living in Poole in the 1960s I watched much of the precious character of one of the most attractive and important southern seaports destroyed with bad planning and disastrous traffic engineering.

“I watched with dismay when I became an architect and urban designer as my home town continued to destroy much of its value and interest with poor quality and inappropriate development.

“When I saw the West Quay proposal I could stay silent no longer. Do we never learn from past mistakes?”

Mr Constance said: “The carbuncle must not be allowed, we hope that residents will tell their local councillors what they want for the future of Poole.”

Neptune Consultants stand by their plans and have described the traditionalist design as a “rather whimsical and pastiche” approach.

“We would point out the very rudimentary and conceptual nature of these unresolved and untested proposals,” said project manager James Leonard.

“It would appear to us that these proposals are most unlikely to comply with the broad ranging and very detailed planning, urban design and environmental policy framework that must be applied to this designated urban regeneration site.”

He said the design could not be claimed to be capable of delivering a similar number of homes and businesses or a comparable standard of amenity for prospective residents, employers and visitors.

“Our proposal for West Quay forms the subject of a detailed planning application that has evolved over a period of three years of extensive consultation with the planning authority, statutory bodies, local interest groups and the general public.

“It has been the subject of the most rigorous qualitative assessment. This included a series of detailed design reviews by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) who are the competent, credible and objective government appointed advisor and champion of good architecture, urban design and public space.

“CABE has praised the quality and appropriateness of our design. We whole-heartedly stand over our proposal, which warrants due process and determination at planning committee in due course,” he added.