THE future of a Bournemouth convent has come under the spotlight at a planning appeal.

An appeal inspector spent two days hearing all the arguments for and against plans to build 26 one-bedroom houses and 36 flats on the site of St Boniface Convent, Doveshill Crescent, Redhill.

A site visit was also held and the inspector is expected to issue a decision in around two months.

Several bids to develop the convent site have been made in the past few years but none have ever succeeded in winning planning permission.

The latest plans have been submitted by Dave Wells Properties and were refused by the council's planning board on the grounds that the proposed new buildings were too big and out of character with the surrounding area.

Cllr Sue Levell, ward councillor Redhill and Northbourne, said she thought the inquiry went well.

"The inspector asked all the right questions and listened very carefully to everything that was said," she said.

"There were quite a lot of residents there and the two residents that spoke did very well.

"The concerns have remained the same throughout the whole process. A three-storey block of flats is not in keeping with the area and it will dominate the skyline.

"Everybody knows something is going to be built there but these plans had the highest mass of building at the highest point of the site.

"There are also a lot of concerns about the increase in traffic and where cars will park."

Steve Wells, managing director of Dave Wells Properties, said: "We're very pleased with the way the public inquiry went and welcomed the input from local residents and councillors who attended. We are now eagerly awaiting the inspector's decision.

"There is a real lack of affordable family houses in the area and if given the green light, we are confident that the families moving into the St Boniface development will quickly become part of the existing vibrant community."