A FAMILY which has been trying to redevelop an historic site adjoining Swanage Pier for 20 years has come up against another planning brick wall.

Purbeck District Council's planning board rejected Nick Storer's application to build 12 apartments, a restaurant and a café bar and gallery space with vehicular access.

The reasons put before the board was that the scale of the development was "excessive" and "unsympathetic" with its surroundings.

The board decided the design did not reflect the predominant architecture in the surrounding conservation area and was considered to be susceptible to flood risk.

This is the latest in a series of setbacks for Mr Storer, who had the endorsement of Swanage Town Council.

Mr Storer has submitted five applications through three different architects, all without success, the only exception being redeveloping the old dilapidated building on the site of the existing pier head building.

He said: "Other seaside towns get innovative landmark buildings which can really help with regeneration and quality of life. It's as though Swanage refuses to have any optimism on what the future holds."

Architect Barry Chapman, who has been working on plans for the site for the past six years, said: "The Pier Head desperately needs a signature building to brighten the place up and bring Swanage into the 21st century.

"The Storers are a wonderful family who are really trying to do just that. They are not some evil developer."

He added: "The last time we submitted an application to Purbeck District Council, they sent us to the South West Regional Design Panel who agreed it was not overdeveloped.

"We have increased the amount of public open space and we have appointed a flood risk team to protect the accommodation."