PLANS for a £100 million redevelopment of Salterns Marina in Poole have been submitted to the council.

The application, led by property consultant Richard Carr, is for the demolition of the existing buildings in Salterns Way and construction of two multi-storey blocks containing 73 flats and a 60-bedroom hotel.

A rooftop restaurant, a spa and gym, and new marina facilities would also be built on the quayside.

Mr Carr, acting on behalf of the marina, said: "The directors of Salterns Marina are very aware that the marina facilities are now over 40 years old and that the hotel is even older.

"They believe that the time has come to give Poole a world class marina, a new hotel, spa and a high quality restaurant overlooking our magnificent harbour.

"The timing is perfect especially with Rick Stein’s restaurant coming to Sandbanks in the near future.

"The new Hilton hotel has recently been unveiled in Bournemouth, but this development is very much in the Poole style of surf, rest and play."

The application proposes one six-storey block of 49 flats with parking for 99 cars on the present hotel site, and a second seven-storey block, located at the end of the quay, containing a 60-suite hotel and an additional 24 flats.

The scheme, designed by Anders Roberts Cheer architects, would also provide £3 million for community improvements through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Residents' associations have expressed reservations about the scale of the new plans and the impact on local infrastructure. There was considerable opposition to an earlier application to build a 22-suite hotel on the existing Salterns Hotel site, although that scheme was approved in December.

Parkstone Bay Association president Ken Bearcroft said: "We haven't had a chance to discuss this proposal yet but it does seem a bit over the top.

"We have opposed previous developments on the site - there were quite a lot of objections to the high rise blocks which are there already.

"It would put an awful lot of stress on the whole area, which already has transport problems and very little parking."

Patricia Scott, chairman of the Elms Estate Association, said: "We can understand them wanting to rebuild the hotel on that site, but the sheer size of this proposal would have an impact on the local infrastructure, on the roads and amenities.

"Also the construction will make life very difficult for some residents, particularly the elderly."