THE latest plan to build more than 200 flats on the edge of a Bournemouth town centre car park have been recommended for approval.

On Thursday, BCP Council’s planning committee will be asked to approve the application submitted by Summix RGB Developments Ltd and Sheet Anchor for 211 flats on land next to Richmond Gardens car park.

A report published ahead of the meeting says the scheme is “sufficiently high quality” to warrant backing and that there would be “significant” benefits to redeveloping the area.

The developers already have planning permission to build on the site having had initial refusal by the council for more than 600 units of student housing overturned following an appeal.

This application was submitted before the outcome of the appeal was reached and proposed a reduction in the maximum height from 15 storeys to 12 as well as a shift from student to general residential accommodation.

It also split one of the blocks in two with four buildings planned in total.

These would house 211 flats with commercial space included on the ground floors of the blocks.

One disabled parking space would be provided as part of the development.

Speaking in 2019, a spokesman for the developers said their latest scheme would “generate a positive transformation and regeneration of an unappealing and underutilised site”.

And this position has now been backed by council planning officer Tom Hubbard whose report recommends planning permission be granted when the scheme is considered by the council's planning committee on Thursday.

“The proposed development will lead to a significant change to the character of Richmond Gardens, though change is not necessarily negative,” his report says.

He adds that the overall scale of the development is similar to that of the student housing scheme approved by the planning inspectorate last year and that it would help improve the safety of the surrounding area.

“It will provide the opportunity to improve the townscape and public realm in Richmond Gardens, which is presently poor and uninviting,” his report adds.

Two people have written in objection to the development with three letters of support submitted.

A final decision will be made by councillors at Thursday’s meeting.