POOLE council has agreed to spend an additional £1.79million in order to improve the town's seafront.

Borough of Poole had planned to build 178 new huts, refurbish 131 and rebuild eight beach huts across the borough’s beaches.

However, due to concerns with cliff stability at Canford Cliffs, a revised scheme has now been agreed which will see 145 new huts built, 147 rebuilt and 28 revamped.

The revised scheme will cost a further £1.79million – a figure which was approved by full council at a meeting on Tuesday night.

It is in addition to the £3.62million which was agreed by the Borough of Poole in July last year.

The new scheme includes the demolition of the existing beach huts at Canford Cliffs to allow the council to address some of the structural concerns and carry out cliff repair work.

The problems arose following a landslip at Bournemouth’s East Cliff in April which prompted Borough of Poole to carry out its own assessment of seafront cliffs.

A report to cabinet revealed the assessment at Canford Cliffs identified “some areas showing visual signs of weathering or movement”. The investigation also found the retaining wall behind the huts had “bowed and cracked in some areas”.

The ground underneath had also “suffered serious erosion over the years, creating underground voids which compromise the integrity of the foundations”.

As a result the original proposals to add a second floor to the current huts at the site have been dropped in favour of replacing them with new two-storey structures and piled foundations. A new cafe and toilets are also planned.

The report added: “Should the current huts be demolished it would provide the council with the ideal opportunity to address these issues.”

Six new huts have already been constructed in Sandbanks. Four are set to be built at Flaghead, 94 at Canford Cliff West, 37 at Canford Cliff East and four at Branksome Dene.

Cllr John Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for the environment and beaches, said: "Our Blue Flag beaches are a fantastic asset and it is vital that we invest to ensure their long-term future and that they remain a great place for residents and visitors to Poole.

"I am pleased that councillors have supported this project which will provide a number of new and different types of beach huts, as well as a new cafe, refurbished toilets, including a DDA compliant toilet, and improved public realm."

Tenders for the construction of the building will now be prepared for advertising, with contracts expected to be awarded during the summer of 2017.

Should planning permission for the project be approved and tenders be successfully awarded it is hoped that building works will start in September 2017.