A MULTI-MILLION pound council residential development has moved a step closer to being built with the submission of a planning application.

BCP Council is applying for approval for its £32 million scheme to build four blocks of mostly ‘affordable’ flats in Princess Road, Westbourne.

It says the development, should it be given planning permission, would make “significant contributions” to the area.

Having already demolished the houses and hostel that used occupy the site just off the Wessex Way, the council is hoping to build four blocks of flats – the tallest having 10 storeys.

These would house 121 flats of which 86 would be made available by the council at ‘affordable’ rates. The remainder would be provided at normal market levels.

Alongside the flats, 20 units of short-term accommodation would be built to temporarily house families at risk of becoming homeless until more permanent alternatives are found.

A total of 113 car and 133 bicycle parking spaces would be provided across the site.

A statement submitted on behalf of the council by Pentan Architects says the development would provide more housing at higher quality than there had been before.

“The Princess Road scheme provides a significant opportunity to alleviate the high level of demand for general needs affordable housing and the need to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families in the area,” it says.

“Situated in a highly sustainable location for residential development of this nature, its close proximity to sustainable modes of transport, a local community with strong sense of identity…as well as mature green infrastructure all provide an opportunity for an exemplary new development."

It adds that the development would make “significant contributions” to businesses and other services in the area.

Funding for the project was approved by councillors last year with £18 million of the £32 million required being borrowed.

A request at the time for the scheme to include flats at social rent levels was rejected due to concerns it would increase the overall cost by more than £5 million.

Council planning officers will consider the application in the coming months.