“A CARBUNCLE on the quay” – that’s the verdict of two conservation groups fighting plans for a £100 million waterfront development in Poole.

The proposal, which includes a 12-storey ‘landmark’ tower, would transform industrial space between Poole Bridge and the new Twin Sails Bridge.

It has been branded “brutal and ugly” by Poole Old Town Conservation Group and Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The groups have now joined forces against Neptune Consultants’ application for 440 homes, shops and offices off West Quay Road, which they claim will dwarf Old Town and the quay – especially St James’ Church.

A leaflet written by Bill Constance, chairman of the Poole Old Town Conservation Group, brands it a “brutal monolithic design”, adding: “Even the developers’ own artists cannot make this look anything but brutal and ugly.”

He calls the proposed 12-storey tower alongside the Poole Bridge “completely out of character”, adding it would “dominate the area with its brutality”.

He said the Old Town wall was in danger of being “walled in” by such unsympathetic developments.

“We have nothing against redevel-opment – in fact it’s needed for very good reasons. What we are concerned about is that all the plans we see are for massive tower blocks just not in keeping with the Old Town,” he said.

The campaigners are calling for residents to register their objections before the planning deadline on September 3, and are planning a public protest meeting.

In a statement Neptune Consultants said they believed the proposal was a “very well-considered and sustain-able” development, the design of which evolved with “extensive consultation over some two years” – including with local interest groups and residents.

It adds: “It is undoubtedly a significant redevelopment proposal which is contemporary and will have its own distinct sense of identity but one that is sympathetic to the character of the Old Town and Quayside.”

They highlighted the planned “vibrant and very high quality new public quayside” adding that the proposal would set a “new benchmark in terms of amenity and quality of design”.

The statement ends: “We would encourage everyone to go and view the planning application to understand the proposal.

Reaching for the sky

Poole does have a number of tall buildings in this area – but none in the immediate vicinity.

The redeveloped Orchard Plaza, Old Orchard, is 11 storeys.

The Linden homes Aqua development on Holes Bay is a maximum of 10 storeys. Inland from the Quay, the 1960s tower blocks, Drake Court, Nelson Court and Sterte Court are 12 storeys. Dolphin Quays on the quayside is eight storeys.