PLANS have been lodged to demolish an office building and replace it with nine flats and office space on a high street.

The outline scheme, proposed for Wimborne Road in Winton, would see Athena House, next door to Winton Library, knocked down and redeveloped.

Six two-bedroom flats and three one-bedroom flats would be built under the scheme, if approved, with a ground floor commercial office.

A design and access statement submitted to BCP Council by Goadsby said the designs for the new building were of ‘traditional style’.

The proposed block would be four storeys tall, in total, with a lower, three storey section next to the library.

Bournemouth Echo: Designs for the new building in Wimborne Road.

The statement said: “The application follows a grant of prior approval for the construction of two additional storeys above the principal element of the existing building and a refusal of planning permission for a re-development of 17 flats.

“The proposed development will do much to improve the street scene in this part of Winton.”

The plans to redevelop the building into 17 flats were refused by council officers in November last year.

The scheme to build an additional two storeys was approved in 2021, which would see four additional flats added to the building.

A majority of the flats would have private outdoor spaces, something developers said was an ‘unusual feature in flatted developments’.

No parking spaces for the flats would be provided, with two provided for the office space. Instead, 16 bike spaces will be included.

The statement said: “The application proposes only limited car parking for the proposed office.

“This is in accordance with the current BCP Council standards, “16 cycle parking spaces are provided, with the use of Sheffield style stands, which is in accordance with the BCP Council preferred storage method.

“The non-car borne approach to travel for the flats is based on cycling, walking and the use of public transport as an alternative.”

“Shops and services in central Winton are within an easy walking distance.”

It also pointed to the proximity of bus stops to the building, with easy access to both Bournemouth and Poole town centres.

No date is set for a decision on the plans, at this stage.