A MULTI-million-pound development a stone’s throw away from Sandbanks is under investigation by the council over alleged breaches of planning consent.
Luxury apartments in Chaddesley Glen, Canford Cliffs, are being investigated by council enforcement officers after additions to the building were not formally agreed by BCP council’s planning department.
Developers for apartments, which have views over Poole Harbour, say they were given “verbal approval” to go ahead by the council and hit out at the “extreme delays” from the planning department.
While the building was mostly completed in the spring, the developers have applied to the council for alterations which have yet to be formally given permission.
These alterations include an additional air conditioning unit, altering approved materials to bronze cladding, changes to a cinema room window and a revised rear parking layout and access stairs.
Read more: Inside the £4million Bournemouth property near Castlepoint
However, these alterations have already been made to the building.
One concerned neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “They started to submit extra plans to the council and there are a lot of people here who are concerned about it and rightly so.
“But all along they have sought to keep asking for more and more for the development and there are a number of things wrong with the building.”
He added: “The cladding on the outside was initially agreed to be timber, then it was white render, then it was light bronze, but it isn’t that it’s gold.
Read more: Travellers occupy beach car park in Bournemouth
The man also alleged there were breaches of balcony windows not in keeping with planning consent as well as boundary fences falling short of the agreed height.
Another resident added: “There is a complete disregard for the people living here and something needs to be done to stop this, because they can’t keep getting away with it.”
Mark Adams, director of MSA Developments – the developer of 7 Chaddesley Glen – said the variations to the initial planning application were agreed with verbal consent in April.
However, he added: “Since receiving verbal approval, there has been two changes in case officers and we have heard nothing since.
“The final administration for this minor variation application is now nearly four months overdue.
“We have experienced extreme delays with the BCP Council and a complete lack of communication. More needs to be done to speed up the planning process.”
A BCP Council spokesman confirmed the application is under review and that they have been made aware of potential concerns.
“But as this is a live investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time,” he added.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article