A MAJOR Poole town centre housing development which already has planning permission for 504 homes can now add another eight - despite protests from neighbours.

Pleas from nearby residents that the Pitwines east and west site was already "grossly overdeveloped" at 106 dwellings per hectare did not prevent the Borough of Poole planning committee from upping it to 108.

The addition of five two-bedroom flats and three one-bed flats spread around the Crest Nicholson development at the old town gas works site will raise a block near the railway line and Baiter homes to six storeys.

"The effect is overpowering," said David Howard, Baiter representative of Parkstone Bay Association. "We were knocking down blocks like that 40 years ago, now it looks like we are putting them up again."

Crest Nicholson original application was for 532 homes, reduced to 522 which the planning committee refused. An application for 504 homes was approved.

"The loss of a total of 28 units since first making the application, represents for us a significant erosion of the viability of the project," said Rod Pearson of Crest Nicholson.

He said the locations of the further flats, two of which would be affordable homes, had been "carefully and sensitively selected" to make partial restitution.

"I believe the site is sensitively developed and we will not seek to increase that number," he said.

Planning officer Doug Evans recommending granting the application, told members the developers had given a written undertaking they would withdraw their appeal against the refusal of the 522 units if this was approved.

"There is a great danger in this type of incrementalisation," said Cllr Brian Leverett, ward councillor. "We ought to make it clear this is the line in the sand."

Councillors raised a number of issues before voting seven to two in favour of granting the application.

First published: Sept 25