A DEVELOPMENT of more than 600 bedrooms for students around a Bournemouth town centre car park can go ahead after a planning inspector overturned the council’s refusal of the scheme.

Firms Summix Capital and Sheet Anchor Evolve launched a challenge against the decision of Bournemouth Borough Council’s planning committee regarding the proposals for land around the Richmond Gardens multi-storey car park.

Concerns had been raised by councillors and MP Conor Burns over the scheme, which includes accommodation for 625 students in three blocks, ranging between eight and 15 storeys, The plans also include a retail/coffee shop unit, landscaping and public realm improvements.

Issues were raised with the scale of the development and a lack of parking provision, with only six parking spaces for staff and disabled students in the plans. However, planning inspector Joanna Gilbert sided with the developers and granted the planning application.

Her report said: “The proposed development would not have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area, including trees and the Old Christchurch Road Conservation Area. Additionally, it would not harm highway safety and it would make appropriate provision for infrastructure needs arising from the development, with particular reference to public realm and highways improvements.”

As reported, since the student accommodation scheme was rejected by the council, the firms had put forward a new residential accommodation scheme for 211 flats.

This scheme is still being considered by BCP Council’s planning department and the applicants said they will wait for a decision before deciding which project they progress.

A spokesperson for Summix and Sheet Anchor said: “We’re pleased our proposals to redevelop the Richmond Gardens site with purpose-built student accommodation have been approved by the Planning Inspectorate Our plans would help to meet an identified need in a sustainable location, while also providing an economic boost to the local area and improvements to the public realm.

“However, despite this positive decision we will await the outcome of our submitted build-to-rent application on the site before making a decision on how to proceed. We expect this application to be determined by BCP Council within the next few months.”

A BCP Council spokeswoman said: “The appeal decision is a material planning consideration and will be given due weight in the decision making process for the current planning application and any future planning applications.”