PLANS for empty town centre land that has been undeveloped for nearly a decade have been unveiled. 

The Mast has come back with its major plan for a block of flats at the former Punshon Memorial Church site in Exeter Road, Bournemouth, opposite the BIC. 

Developers have submitted a planning application to BCP Council to build a new 84-bedroom seven-storey apartment block. 

Previous plans for an 85-bedroom apartment very similar to the fresh proposals were given planning consent in 2020 but came to fruition. 

New Views of the Royal Exeter Hotel and the Hotels and apartments in Exeter Park Road in Bournemouth since the demolition of the nearby Punshon churchNew Views of the Royal Exeter Hotel and the Hotels and apartments in Exeter Park Road in Bournemouth since the demolition of the nearby Punshon church (Image: Richard Crease) The site has been used as a car park since the church was demolishedThe site has been used as a car park since the church was demolished (Image: Daily Echo)

A condition attached to the previous planning application meant that if the project had not started within three years of consent, it could not go ahead. 

Pure Town Planning, the agent for the developer The Mast, said development failed to get off the ground because of “economic conditions since Covid-19" which prevented the development from starting.  

But now the developer has come back, albeit with slightly changed plans: chief among which is the loss of one flat. 

This is because of changes made to BCP Council’s planning policies since the last application where extra space has to be given to bins and cycle parking. 

Demolition on the former Punshon Church in Bournemouth town centre.Demolition on the former Punshon Church in Bournemouth town centre. (Image: Sally Adams)

Similarly to the last scheme, the new one will have two shops on the ground floor facing Exeter Road and the flats will be a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, two- and three-bedroom duplexes. 

And like the old project, the new one would have 66 spaces for cars over two storeys including the basement. 

Pure Town Planning said: “The public benefits of the scheme will be the creation of mixed use development that will provide jobs to the local economy and contribute to the provision of new housing units in an accessible location making more efficient use of urban previously developed land.” 

The church in Exeter Road was demolished in 2015 after it was sold for redevelopment due to concerns about the cost of its maintenance. 

The land has since been used as a temporary car park before Bournemouth council refused retrospective permission for The Mast in 2018. 

A decision on the project will be made by BCP Council in due course.