BOURNEMOUTH council claims it will be replacing parking spaces lost to its town centre development programme.

However the borough's planning policies mean the town could see an influx of new car owners well beyond its current capacity.

There are 11 town centre car parks set to go, on top of three sites already built on, according to the latest business plan from the Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) – the partnership between the council and Morgan Sindall Investments.

Councillor Mike Greene, cabinet member for transport, told the Echo that each BDC development will include replacement parking.

"There is a requirement in all cases that they re-provide the parking spaces currently on site as well as whatever requirement there is for the development itself," he said.

However the provision of spaces for the new developments will be based on the council's parking formula, intended to anticipate the likely car ownership in new developments, which often falls far short of the amount of accommodation provided.

For example, while the 113-flat Berry Court development currently under construction in St Peter's Road, replacing a 155 space car park, 're-provides' 155 public spaces in a new multi-storey car park, it includes only 62 spaces for the development.

Of these, 73 are two-bed and four three-bed.

In fact this is fewer than the required number of spaces under the parking policy, although council planners ruled that BDC providing £16k towards the cost of a 'Co-Wheels Car Club' vehicle for building residents was a satisfactory mitigation.

The partnership has also now resubmitted a proposal for 44 one, two and three-bedroom flats on the Durley Road car park, with 41 spaces for residents.

However council policies don't provide for the replacement of spaces in Durley Road, which is specifically earmarked for development, and instead BDC is proposing a £250k contribution to road reconstruction in the area, including a 20mph zone, wider footpaths and new crossings.

According to the application: "BDC has undertaken a number of traffic surveys that identify surplus capacity both on-street and off-street in the near vicinity of the site."

The council says it intends to maintain a total capacity of around 6,400 spaces in the town centre and Lansdowne area, but within fewer and larger car parks.

It has also stated that growing demand for spaces should "be accommodated not by increasing car parking but by relying on a shift to sustainable modes to keep parking demand at manageable levels".

BDC says that, according to council policy, town centre growth "should not be accommodated by allowing unrestrained use of the car" and that "in terms of pricing, the policy is to implement tariffs that will deter commuting by car".

Cllr Greene said: "Our car parks are still pretty full, and with the town and population continuing to grow it is something we need to look at.

"I am particularly inclined to look towards the potential for sustainable transport solutions."