POOLE planning chiefs have given the green light to proposals to build 46 apartments at Holes Bay.

Borough of Poole's (BOP) planning committee nodded through the Spectrum Housing Group application, subject to conditions and referral to the secretary of state.

Eighteen of the flats will be affordable housing and made available to people registered on the council's housing waiting list, says a borough spokesman.

Computer generated images provided to the Daily Echo also show a ten-storey tower block at the heart of the development.

Planning committee chairman Cllr Peter Pawlowski said: "The committee welcomed the use of underused council-owned land to increase housing supply in the town.

"Naturally there was some disappointment that not all of the apartments would be affordable homes."

The development, comprising of 35 two-bedroom flats and 11 one-bedroomed apartments, will be built on land owned by Borough of Poole at the junction of Holes Bay Road and Sterte Road.

Cllr Pawlowski added: "Whilst the committee was satisfied with arrangements to provide future flood protection, due to the sites's harbourside location, the final decision on that issue will rest with the Department for Communities and Local Government."

Meanwhile, BOP housing portfolio holder Cllr Karen Rampton said that securing affordable housing remains one of the authority's highest priorities.

She added: "Whilst it is disappointing that this scheme is not able to deliver 100 per cent affordable housing on this site, due to recent government changes to social housing rents which has affected the scheme's viability, it is still helping us to meet Poole's housing challenges."