BOURNEMOUTH council is working on a £15 million scheme to build some 120 flats.

The borough has submitted planning applications to demolish the buildings at 133, 135, 137 and 139 Princess Road, although a construction contract tendered earlier this year suggests the scope of the scheme is much greater.

According to that document, it would include land between 129-139 Princess Road and 8-14 in the adjacent Prince of Wales Road, delivering blocks of one, two and three bedroom flats, as well as "a 20-room family hostel with associated communal facilities".

Councillor Robert Lawton, cabinet member for housing, said the development would help boost the range of tenures available to the borough's renters.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to provide much needed homes of mixed tenure in the borough," he said.

“Bournemouth council housing team are intending to develop the site at Princess Road and Prince of Wales Road.

"It is expected that the site will be mixed use, with a particular focus on affordable housing provision.

"As part of the preparation for the site, the existing homes will be demolished and ground investigations will commence.

"Designs for what will go on the site are under way, with the architect now appointed, and will be subject to a planning application."

The borough plans to hold a public consultation in the Autumn and to see the planning application submitted in December.

The tender documentation states that work must be completed by 2022.

The Echo understands that the flats will include affordable rental, shared ownership and private rental properties, and that the hostel may designed for easy conversion into flats in future.

The borough has received criticism in recent months for what is perceived as its slow progress in the construction of affordable housing, and for building only market value flats through its collaboration with Morgan Sindall Investments in the Bournemouth Development Company.

Part of the wider site in Princess Road is the former Hannah House rehabilitation project, which closed its doors for the last time a year ago after operator BCHA was told the council was withdrawing funding due to Government cuts.

Then, BHCA chief executive Martin Hancock told the Echo he believed the supported housing facility saved the NHS more public money than it cost the council to run.