PLANS to add an extra three storeys of flats to a building in Bournemouth town centre have been submitted.

Park Place Properties Ltd has applied to BCP Council for permission increase the height of the building on the corner of Old Christchurch Road and Glen Fern Road.

It said the extension would accommodate 31 new flats and make “more efficient use of this highly accessible site”.

Planning permission has previously been granted for the use of the basement, first and second floors as HMOs and for the construction of a new third floor to expand this provision.

The developer said these decisions had “established a number of important principles” that were used to inform its latest scheme for the site.

If approved, its plans will allow three extra floors to be built on top of the southern part of existing building, accommodating a mix of 15 one- and 16 two-bedroom flats and increasing its height to six storeys.

The ground floor retail space off Old Christchurch Road would be kept.

And, in a bid to reduce the impact of the taller building, the top floor has been designed to be set back from the road.

“The height of the proposal is cognisant of the road hierarchy with Glen Fern Road being secondary to Old Christchurch Road and the proposal not seeking to compete with Old Christchurch Road,” a statement submitted with its application says.

“The proposal does, however, take the opportunity to improve the street scene and the setting of the adjacent conservation area.”

It adds that the “car free” nature of the development would “enable future residents to take advantage of the highly sustainable nature of the locality”.

“From a social perspective, the proposal will provide additional accommodation which will be of an appropriate design, will respond well to the character of the area and shall be highly accessible to local services,” it says.

The application will be considered by council planning officers in the coming months.