AN APPLICATION to build houses and apartments at a Christchurch beauty spot has been rejected.
BCP Council has refused plans to demolish a number of buildings at Steamer Point to make space for 21 new residential units.
Pennyfarthing Homes Ltd outlined plans to build 12 houses and nine apartments, with 19 garage spaces and 31 surface spaces for the houses, and a further 18 basement parking spaces for the apartments and two surface spaces.
The units were proposed for a site at Steamer Point, last used as a training centre for the Maritime Coastguard Agency, and home to a number of, now vandalised, buildings and structures.
Several attempts have been made to develop on the site over the years, with an application by Pennyfarthings Homes’ for 26 units rejected only last year.
Read more: New housing application for Steamer Point in Christchurch
BCP Council has outlined a number of reasons for the refusal of the most recent application, including the impact the building would have on environmental factors.
A decision notice issued on the scheme reads: “Located in this site are a mix of tree species, including English Oaks, Holm Oak, Sycamore, Silver Birch and Sweet Chestnut that are the subject of Borough of Christchurch Tree Preservation Order 2014 No 3 (Steamer Point No. 2).
“These trees make a positive contribution to the area's verdant character and sylvan cover within the local landscape.
“The proposed felling of 54 trees, with 24 identified as having high to moderate quality and importance in the landscape, to facilitate the development, is unacceptable.
"The proposal is within 5 Km of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This SSSI is also part of the designated Dorset Heathlands SPA (Special Protection Area SPA) and Ramsar site and is also part of the Dorset Heaths SAC (Special Area of Conservation SAC).
"The applicant has failed to demonstrate in accordance with the Habitat Regulations that the proposals will cause no harm to the SPA and SAC heathland."
The notice also said the buildings would have “an unacceptable visual impact on the character and appearance of this prominent cliff top site”.
Pennyfarthing Homes Ltd has not yet appealed the refusal.
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