PLANS for a 13-storey tower overlooking Holes Bay have been submitted to Borough of Poole.

Salterns Marina Ltd has applied for outline planning permission for 76 flats, a ground floor cafe and shop and a “sky restaurant” on the top two floors, as well as 40 underground car park spaces.

Predominantly five-storey, the proposal includes a 13-storey “landmark tower” of “contemporary architectural design” drawing inspiration from “the reeds of Poole Harbour,” according to the planning statement. The application site at 27 to 31 West Quay Road, next door to the RNLI training college, is close to the Old Town Conservation area and part of Poole’s regeneration area.

It is currently occupied by a Volvo Penta marine parts centre, fronting West Quay Road, and a boat repairs workshop to the rear, accessed from Whittles Way.

Bill Constance, chairman of the Poole Old Town Conservation Society, said while they welcomed development on regeneration sites they planned to object to the application, primarily over concerns about its density.

“Basically it’s a very large development on a very small plot of land,” he told the Echo.

He also raised the issue of parking with “about half a space per dwelling” and questioned if the restaurant would be viable without additional parking.

He added: “And at 13 storeys the tower is massively big – we believe it would be the joint highest in the town with the Asda tower.”

Mr Constance is also chairman of Poole Quays Forum, which has created a neighbourhood plan for the area.

He added: “There has been no pre-application consultation with ourselves, which would normally be the case, as recommended by the planning authority.”