Update: Bournemouth council has issued a statement today stating that the application outlined below has been withdrawn from Monday's planning board agenda. 

The council said this is to afford the applicant more time to address the cliff stability issues. 

PROPOSALS to build a block of 10 two-bedroom flats on a Bournemouth clifftop are set to be approved despite concerns that only 11 car parking spaces will be provided.

Developer Harlequin Homes is planning to demolish two existing bungalows and amalgamate the two sites on Southbourne Overcliff Drive in order to make space for the three-storey building’s construction.

But 21 neighbours have objected, claiming as well as the parking issues, work to build the development could impact cliff stability, result in lost privacy and constitute overdevelopment.

Neighbour Lynda Leadbitter said the increase in height between the proposed and existing buildings will “obliterate” light coming into her property.

She added: “Why should a builder decimate this area for profit?”

And resident of nearby St Catherine’s Road Andrew Broadhurst said: “Flats like that are very likely to be occupied by couples with two cars, and that could cause additional congestion in other roads, including St Catherine’s Road.”

Debbie Stent, who owns land behind the development plot, said the plans would result in “even more competition for parking” in the area.

“The trees and plants in these gardens will be a massive loss to the wildlife in the area, as we are very close to the Overcliff which is a protected nature reserve. We have large numbers of breeding starlings and sparrows in this area,” she added.

But in a report set to go before the borough’s planning board, planning officer Simon Gould said the development “would not materially harm the character or appearance of the area”.

Mr Gould said that a survey had found no protected wildlife, the parking provision meets the criteria set out by the council’s own policy and the issue of overlooking is “not a material planning consideration”.

He added that an update on the cliff stability concerns would be delivered when the application was heard in full at the planning board meeting - chaired by Cllr David Kelsey - set to be held at the town hall on Monday.

A design and access statement produced by planning agents Pure Town Planning said: “As the proposal complies with the Development Plan and there are no material considerations which indicate that it should be determined otherwise, the proposal ought to be approved.”