A DEVELOPER will be able buy off bits of Bournemouth to transform its "unambitious" and "uninspiring" town centre.

The council has agreed to form a company with a private investor, which could see more car parks and sites like the Winter Gardens sold off.

The scheme was passed by an overwhelming town hall vote, with only the Liberal Democrats objecting.

The company will be known as an ABRC - an asset-backed regeneration company.

The council will find a major developer to work with over 25 years on a 50/50 basis. It believes the plan will let it better control how the town centre changes.

Leader of the council, Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin, decried an attempt by Lib Dem Cllr Roger West to increase the number of panels who would scrutinise the scheme.

He said: "Cllr West is not prepared to make the brave, bold decisions needed to take this town forward. He believes the council can do everything. It doesn't work like that in the real world. We need partners.

"It's this kind of small-minded thinking that has given us the town centre we have today - uninspiring and unambitious.

"Many towns and cities, our competition, are working with private sector investors to offer retailing, facilities and entertainments. We have for too long been unambitious and have not kept up."

He said businesses would welcome the stability an ABRC would bring after the various changes in leadership of the council.

Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr Richard Smith said he could not see how more scrutiny would be contentious.

Deputy council leader John Beesley said the ABRC was needed after years of indecision and stagnation in the town, and that normal scrutiny would continue.

"Members were sceptical at first but they are buying into this," he added.