Objections lodged against flat development plans

The plans have been submitted on behalf of FJB Hotels, which owns the three hotels

The plan to demolish the Haven Hotel in Sandbanks and replace it with a block of flats has met with over 6,000 objections.

Controversial plans were submitted in 2017 to replace the Sandbanks Hotel with a new 171-bedroom hotel, replace the Haven Hotel with three blocks of residential apartments and erect a 38-suite “aparthotel” on the site of the Harbour Heights Hotel.

The plans have been submitted on behalf of FJB Hotels - the owner of the three hotels.

However, the Sandbanks Community Group, which strongly opposes the plans, says 6,252 objections have been lodged.

David Morley, chairman of the group, said: The number of objections to this out of character, overly dominant development plan to demolish The Haven Hotel, and replace it with soulless blocks of flats, tell you all you need to know about why the plans should be rejected.

Even if the plans were approved, developments on this scale should be generating funds to help provide local people with more housing, he said.

Instead, the owners and developers are seeking to divert money that should be going towards providing more affordable housing contribution to their own private profit, leaving the contribution to affordable housing pitifully small, Morley said.

A statement from Pure Town Planning said: The scheme would deliver three iconic buildings consisting of a modern 171-bedroom hotel at the Sandbanks Hotel site, a 38-unit (148 bed spaces) aparthotel at the Harbour Heights Hotel site and a 119-unit residential development in the heart of Sandbanks at the Haven Hotel site. All three sites retain public restaurant facilities.

The creation of three landmark developments will add variety and visual interest to the architectural environment found in Canford Cliffs and Sandbanks area, it said.

Resident Julia Nott-Macaire opposed the plans. She said: Should the current proposal be passed, it will not only destroy the existing iconic views for people using the beach, but it will also set a precedent for future developments which would have a devastating and irreversible effect on the peninsula as a whole.