PROPERTY magnate Eddie Mitchell has unveiled his latest vision for Sandbanks seafront following successive bids to redevelop the area.

His revised scheme, based around Sandbanks Pavilion, features more retail units and beach huts than his previous proposals, as well as more parking spaces.

Bournemouth Echo:

Although Mr Mitchell obtained planning permission to restore and extend the pavilion in 2016, he did not submit an application for his wider scheme, which included a soft play centre, new beach café and bar, and information centre and lifeguard hub.

Revealing his latest plans to the Daily Echo, he said he intended to submit a formal application “in the next few months”.

But even if he does get planning permission for the £30m scheme, he will have to persuade landowners Poole council to get it off the ground – something he is yet to achieve for his pavilion plans.

Bournemouth Echo:

“It’s an improvement on the last scheme and based on what the council have suggested they want to see in their planning guidance for the area.

“A lot of things could be improved in the area - I would challenge any councillor to say what’s great about the buildings. The pavilion is dilapidated, the play area is worn out and rotting, and the paved areas are cracked and in disrepair. The area needs some love.”

A video created to visualise the scheme shows a new complex containing flats and shops, a soft play centre, a seafront bar and large cafe, colourful beach hut ‘villages’, new shower and toilet facilities built into a sand dune, a sand performance area, an artificial grass multi-sports arena, and a play area.

Bournemouth Echo:

There is also an education centre, a three-storey car park, and a shared traffic and pedestrian area along Banks Road.

Mr Mitchell said 32 three-bedroom flats, 10 shops, and 108 beach huts were planned, as well as more than 600 car parking spaces and a drop off area. Sixteen overnight beach huts would be built above the pavilion, which have already received planning permission.

“We’ve not had discussions with the council at this stage, but they should look at the scheme positively. It would make the area sustainable. Buildings in Sandbanks have gone way past their sell by date, and the area should be a jewel in the borough’s crown,” he said.

A public exhibition of the plans is due to take place in June.

Mr Mitchell’s first vision for the area was put forward in 2014 and featured a large, 3,900-seat beach arena. He withdrew his plans before they went to council and submitted a scaled-back version in 2016, which was rejected by the planning committee.

Reasons for refusal included inadequate car parking and lack of provision for additional toilet facilities.

What do you think about Mr Mitchell’s latest plans? Send in your comments to us at newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk