THE Borough of Poole has said that Eddie Mitchell’s latest scheme for Sandbanks Pavilion may never happen - despite the fact he has been granted planning permission.

Elite Skills Arena, the company part-owned by Mr Mitchell which is behind the plans, submitted a revised application to restore and extend the 1928 pavilion.

The proposals included the construction of 16 executive beach huts on top of the pavilion and was approved last month by the council under delegated powers.

However, as Mr Mitchell does not own the pavilion it will be up to the landowner, which is the council, to decide whether they will implement the planning permission and officially give the scheme the go-ahead.

Stephen Thorne, head of planning and regeneration, said: “Mr Mitchell has exercised his statutory right to make a planning application for 16 executive beach huts on council land above the existing pavilion.

“This has been assessed against the council’s planning policies and approved.

“The applicant has no legal interest or control over the land to which the planning permission relates, so it will be for the land owner to implement the planning permission should it choose to do so.

“I am not aware of any proposal to implement the permission nor am I aware of any current discussions with Mr Mitchell about his scheme.”

However Mr Mitchell has said he hopes the council will let him go ahead with the plans.

He told the Echo: “I’m offering them a great scheme that will lead to more investment in the area and I’m also planning on offering a seven-figure sum.”

Campaigners who have fought to prevent development at Sandbanks Pavilion say they are “shocked” the scheme was approved without any discussion with councillors.

Beach hut owner Ailsa Wilson said she was “absolutely outraged” that planning permission had been granted.

“It is just not what Sandbanks needs and I can’t believe it was approved under delegated powers.

“To think not a single councillor thought to call the plans in to be discussed at a public committee meeting knowing how controversial the scheme is and how many people have objected to it.

“It’s just such an illustration about how the council isn’t working on behalf of the majority of the people within the Borough, but are instead working for the interests of the few. That’s not democracy.

“For the people who have been campaigning for a long time against the various schemes for Sandbanks this is really upsetting.”

A spokesperson for the Borough of Poole said they were unable to get an official comment on why the proposal was passed using delegated powers.