PLANS for an eight-storey development on the former Odeon cinema site have again attracted objections from Bournemouth Civic Society.

The organisation has called for changes to the proposals and said it cannot support the plans as they stand.

Owners Libra Homes have applied for permission for two retail levels, 67 apartments and 68 parking spaces on the Westover Road site.

They hope to incorporate a residents' lounge and residents' garden on the site, which backs on to Hinton Road.

This is the third planning application from the owners, who have seen proposals for 101 flats and 84 flats rejected. An appeal against refusal of permission has also been dismissed.

Bournemouth Civic Society said it welcomes many aspects of the current scheme but said it still cannot support it.

"Without further demonstration that the loss of a cultural facility and a non-designated heritage asset is justified, it does not seem to tip the balance in favour of permitting the harm to the identified areas of significance within the building’s own historical and architectural value and that of its setting" said Heritage and Conservation Officer James Weir.

He said the society would like to see the removal of the top two storeys and would like a report to be provided on the condition of the building's murals and plasterwork.

He said members would like to see a firm commitment to community and cultural uses within the building and said areas from the original auditorium walls where the greatest amounts of plasterwork and murals survive should be retained.

The Odeon and nearby ABC cinemas closed in 2017 when the new BH2 multiplex opened. Libra Homes bought both sites for around £6 million.

An application to build 62 flats on the ABC site has also been turned down and dismissed on appeal. A further application is expected shortly.

The latest application for outline planning permission for the Odeon site has been submitted to BCP Council.

A spokesman for the owners said it overcomes the previous Planning Appeal Inspector’s objections on scale and height and said it also retains the historic facades on both Westover Road and Hinton Road.

He said he believes footfall and trade in the area would improve if the scheme was given the go-ahead and added: "We have a produced a scheme which retains historic features of the building whilst enhancing the building’s presence on both Hinton Road and Westover Road and removes the current unpleasant asbestos clad warehouse roof, replacing it with an elegant extension that compliments the existing design.”