CONTROVERSIAL plans to build two blocks of nearly 100 flats at a former steelworks in Hamworthy have been withdrawn.

The proposals - which were put forward by property developer Richard Carr’s company Fortitudo - would have seen 42 one-bed and 54 two-bed flats built across two blocks at the former James Bros site.

The first block of 51 flats would have reached 10 storeys high.

The plans were intended to “revitalise a stalled brownfield town centre site to deliver much-needed homes”, according to Fortitudo’s agent Chapman Lily Planning.

Poole council’s planning committee approved the plans back in September, against the recommendation of planning officers.

Following this a request was made to the Secretary of State to call-in the application, putting the permission on hold.

This week the plans were officially withdrawn.

Proposals to build five blocks comprising 93 flats were approved in 2008. The scheme was partially implemented with the construction of Compass Point North to the north of the site.

The remaining land, which fronts Station Road, currently stands vacant.

Further developments to the site were granted by councillors in 2011, 2012 and 2016.

Three blocks were granted as part of the 2008 application. Two of these blocks containing a total of 44 flats are due to be built on the southern part of the site. Mr Carr hoped to develop this part of the land.

Among the concerns raised by planning officers about Fortitudo’s plans was the height of one block, which would have stood three storeys, or 9.5 metres, taller than any previously approved blocks.

They said “one large, tall mass of building would dominate the waterline and Hamworthy beach area, to a harmful degree”.

Poole Quays Forum chairman, Bill Constance, had feared the development would have “opened the floodgates to inappropriate development”.

The forum, which was established in 2013 to develop a neighbourhood plan for central Poole and Hamworthy East, expressed similar fears recently over a developer’s plans to build 562 flats in nearby West Quay Road.

The tallest tower block proposed by developer Reuben & Morgan Limited is 13 storeys high.

Mr Constance said the overall proposal was “too dense, too high and completely out of character for a sensitive site adjoining the conservation area”.