CONTROVERSIAL plans for three blocks of student housing in the centre of Bournemouth have been refused, despite being backed by council planning officers.

Councillors agreed to refuse the scheme put forward by Summix RGB Developments and Sheet Anchor after hearing that it “pillages” the site around the Richmond Gardens car park.

Concerns were raised about the design of the blocks – the tallest of which would have been 15 storeys – as well as the lack of any parking.

The application would have provided accommodation for 625 students and the two firms said it would help free up housing elsewhere in the borough.

Representing Summix RGB Developments, Stuart Black said there was a shortfall of more than 13,000 beds for students in Bournemouth and that their proposal was “possibly the only feasible option” for developing the site.

Their view was backed by Bournemouth council planning officers who, in a report to councillors, recommended that the application be approved when they considered it on Monday.

Eighteen letters of objection were lodged in response to the proposal and the scheme was also opposed by Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns and all three ward councillors.

In an email to councillors on the morning of the meeting, Mr Burns described the scale of the proposed buildings as “excessive” and said he was “not convinced” about the arguments to support the lack of any parking being provided for students.

At Monday’s meeting councillors voted to refuse the application, echoing their concerns.

Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts described the scheme as “one of missed opportunities” and described the proposed designs of the three blocks as “something out of eastern Europe”.

Cllr Laurence Fear said it was “very drab, very boxy and very dull”.

A move to refuse the application was supported by the majority of councillors, although Cllr Stephen Bartlett raised concerns about a lack of consistency in the committee’s approach.

He said Bournemouth Development Company’s – a firm jointly-owned by the council – Winter Gardens scheme had “driven a bulldozer” through its planning policies and that the Richmond Gardens proposal was more compliant.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Black said he was not surprised by the decision but that they were keen to develop the site and would either come forward with a new proposal or appeal the refusal after considering the reasons for it being turned down.