DEVELOPERS are yet to decide which set of plans it will press ahead with for a major housing scheme around a Bournemouth town centre car park.

Summix RGB Developments Ltd and Sheet Anchor received a green light from BCP Council’s planning committee last year to build 211 flats for the Richmond Gardens site.

This built-to-rent scheme, which features four blocks ranging from 12 to 15 storeys and ground floor commercial space, was only formally granted by the council last month following a lengthy process of agreeing the finer details of the proposal.

The applicants tabled this plan despite already holding a planning approval since 2020 for more than 600 student flats on the site, which is near the A338 Wessex Way.

Bournemouth Echo: The student flats plans around Richmond Gardens multi-storey car park. Picture: The student flats plans around Richmond Gardens multi-storey car park. Picture:

The larger project involved Summix and Sheet Anchor successfully appealing a refusal by Bournemouth Borough Council.

A spokesperson for Summix said: “We are committed to making this part of the town a great place to live.

“Both proposals will deliver more than 370 jobs during construction and through the wider supply chain, delivering a multi-million pound investment into the local economy at a critical time for Bournemouth.”

It was confirmed to the Daily Echo that no decision had been reached yet by the developers over whether to deliver the student flats or the smaller residential flats around the existing multi-storey car park.

The agreement between the firms and the council for the 211-flat project, which had a gross development value of £49.5million, included various contributions to be paid to the local authority.

There is a requirement to pay £59,759 towards Dorset Heathlands mitigation, £13,200 for public realm improvements in Old Christchurch Road, £60,000 towards CCTV in the vicinity of the site, £84,240 for car club spaces and £10,550 towards biodiversity projects and initiatives.

The more recent application received unanimous backing from BCP Council’s planning committee in May last year.

Committee chair Cllr David Kelsey said this development was preferable to the student option.

Bournemouth Echo: CGI of the student housing option. Picture: SummixCGI of the student housing option. Picture: Summix

Speaking during the meeting, he said: “This does look a lot better and on balance I think I would rather have this amount of residential rather than 600 students.

“That’s no disrespect to students. I think we probably have as much student accommodation as we need at this moment.

“I welcome the extra housing and the fact that it takes a chunk out of our needs and keeps us from nudging towards that green belt line.”