DEMOLITION crews have knocked down a former college building in Poole recently gutted by a suspicious fire.

The derelict Broughton House building, which formed part of the old Bournemouth and Poole College site, was demolished for safety reasons following the large fire on Sunday, February 5.

As reported, more than 40 firefighters attended the blaze off Constitution Hill Road at its peak which was quickly deduced by the fire service to have been started deliberately – resulting in a Dorset Police investigation.

Work to demolish the building began on Saturday, February 11, and is now complete.

Nearby resident Cheryl Foster said: “They're just clearing what's left away and getting ready to demolish the other buildings now.”

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “Following the fire earlier in the month, Broughton House was confirmed to be a dangerous structure by Building Control. As a result, the building was demolished this week to remove that risk.”

Broughton House was the old college’s science block and had become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour in the years and months leading up to the fire.

The former Poole Borough Council purchased the land from Bournemouth and Poole College in 2015.

BCP Council previously said it would “make an assessment” on the future of the abandoned site soon having previously earmarked it for redevelopment as part of the FuturePlaces scheme.

Dorset Echo: Artist's impression for former college land housing redevelopment off Constitution Hill Road in Poole.Artist's impression for former college land housing redevelopment off Constitution Hill Road in Poole. (Image: BCP Council)

Existing plans would see 88 new homes with a small community facility, commercial space and 106 car parking spaces built at the site.

An outline business case has been submitted by BCP Council’s urban regeneration company, FuturePlaces, which recommends the mixed tenure project, including affordable housing, be overseen and delivered by BCP Council’s Housing Development team.

Councillor Philip Broadhead, interim leader of the council, said: “What I love about the Constitution Hill proposals is that it shows what regeneration is about – people. These plans provide local homes for local people, whilst also supporting community facilities and green spaces.”

It is also proposed BCP Council funds the construction and refurbishments of heritage buildings on the site. Over the next six months its housing team will finalise plans and submit a planning application.