PLANS have been unveiled for a £24million flats development in the heart of Poole town centre.

Fortitudo Ltd want to build a block of 122 one and two-bedroom apartments at the corner plot of Longfleet Road and Parkstone Road.

The site is currently home to Trethowans Solicitors and the developer wants to demolish the existing building to make way for the eight-storey residential block.

An outline application to determine the layout, scale, appearance and access of the scheme only has been submitted to BCP Council.

Fortitudo chief executive Richard Carr said the development will provide starter homes in the Help to Buy category.

Bournemouth Echo: 3D drawing excerpt of the plans for Parkstone Road and Longfleet Road in Poole. Picture: Fortitudo Ltd/Chapman Lily Planning Ltd/ ARC Architecture Ltd

"It is an exciting project bringing forward a substantial development to help address the housing crisis," said Mr Carr.

"The great thing about the site is it is a flat walk to Poole railway station, Poole town centre and Poole Park.

"It is also within walking distance of Poole Hospital. A lot of people working in the NHS need housing."

Trethowans has confirmed it will be remaining at the Parkstone Road site until at least the early part of next year before moving to a new base in Poole.

The 122 apartments proposed are in the form of 94 one-bed and 28 two-bed units.

A total of 69 parking spaces are proposed, all of which would include electric charging points.

Bournemouth Echo: CGI of Fortitudo Ltd's plans for the site at the corner of Parkstone Road and Longfleet Road in Poole town centre. Picture: Fortitudo Ltd

A statement submitted on behalf of the applicant by Chapman Lily Planning Ltd said: "The proposal presents a sustainable form of development, contributing to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Poole.

"The proposed development would make more efficient use of brownfield, urban land in a highly sustainable location.

"The new homes would provide modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation, meeting an identified need for one and two-bed properties in an area where the tilted balance of the presumption in favour is engaged."

The scheme is the latest to be announced or submitted by Fortitudo in recent weeks.

As reported, an application has been tabled for 55 homes at the corner of Barrack Road and The Grove in Christchurch, while the firm has acquired Glen Fern House in Fir Vale Road, Bournemouth, with plans for a major redevelopment of the site.

Mr Carr said Fortitudo took a decision to invest in sites during the pandemic and they are now in a position to bring forward development plans.