NEW plans have been submitted to build flats next to Bournemouth's Central Gardens.

Late last year council planning officers rejected a bid to knock down the unlisted 1930s Art Moderne property at 2b Bradburne Road, as well as neighbouring 2a, and build a six-storey block of 16 flats.

An appeal is still being assessed by the Planning Inspectorate.

However in March demolition permission was granted under the prior approval procedure.

Now applicant Woldingham Developments has submitted a new scheme for 16 flats, albeit one storey shorter.

The planning statement says: "This revised scheme has removed the top floor completely off the previous scheme in a direct attempt to alleviate the local planning authority’s concerns in respect of the scale of the property.

"In terms of the loss of a non-designated heritage asset, this has been fully addressed and overcome by the subsequent prior approval permission approved on March 19, which gave consent under permitted development for the demolition of the buildings on site.

"As such the LPA (local planning authority) cannot reasonably refuse the application this time around on loss of buildings because the owner “could” demolish these buildings tomorrow.

"The inspector’s decision notice will provide further clarity on the remaining issues concerning impact on trees and parking provision."

The council has said it "considers that the existing building at 2b Bradburne Road has significant historic and architectural quality and is regarded as a non-designated heritage asset" following Historic England guidance.

Bournemouth Civic Society also criticised the demolition plans.

Campaigners in the town have criticised a loophole which allows unlisted but claimed heritage assets to be demolished under prior approval even where the planning board has indicated they should be preserved.

The developer’s director, former LV= financial director Steve Castle, complained to the Echo last year that 2b – his parents' former home – had been occupied by squatters and drug users, and he was unable to secure it.

The first planning application followed in August that year. It said the proposal would "significantly improve the built form on site [...] given the site’s former history of vandalism and abuse by squatters which has been well documented in the local press in the last 12 months.”