AN application has been lodged to keep a popular mini-golf course at Bournemouth seafront.

BCP Council has applied to keep the Smugglers Cove course at Pier Approach for ‘as long as possible’ ahead of redevelopment plans in the area.

The 18-hole smugglers themed course was granted a five-year stay at the site back in January 2019.

The limited time period was insisted by Bournemouth Borough Council’s regeneration teams with the course forming part of a larger site allocated for “comprehensive redevelopment”.

This five-year planning consent is due to expire in January 2024.

Now, the council’s seafront service has submitted a new application to remove the condition of planning permission that is preventing the course from staying.

It argues there are “no imminent plans for redevelopment of the site” and proposes the golf course is retained “until comprehensive redevelopment plans come forward”, at which point it will be removed.

Smugglers Cove was first opened to the public in July 2019, before being awarded silver Dorset Tourism Award in 2020.

It has also won TripAdvisor's annual Travellers’ Choice Award in both 2022 and 2023.

The seafront service says the course attracts between 50,000 and 60,000 customers per year and describes it as a “catalyst in attracting additional visitors to the area”.

A Design and Access statement submitted as part of the planning application reads: “In the past, the Waterfront space functioned as a flexible site for event activities and short-term commercial visitor attractions. Most of these events and activities took place during the months of April - October.

"The adventure golf, Smugglers Cove has extended the use of this area, so that it is used throughout the year, bringing in additional income for the seafront services, and enhances the leisure offer for visitors in Bournemouth.”

The seafront service also argues it has worked hard over the years to ensure the golf course has matched Bournemouth’s “reputation for high quality attractions”.

A decision is yet to be made on the planning application for Smugglers Cove.