A CIVIC leader has branded Bournemouth "Flatsville -on-Sea" following revelations that the resort will be home to more flats than houses by 2014 if current development rates continue.

Speaking after planning chiefs granted permission for 84 new flats but refused applications for three blocks, Cllr Ron Whittaker, said: "We must put the brakes on developers before it's too late."

The vice-chairman of the council's planning board added: "I've lived here all my life and seen tremendous changes in the character of the town; sadly many of those changes haven't been for the better.

"What we should be providing is more family homes, not cramped flats in roof-spaces, without gardens or kitchen windows.

"We're bulldozing all the town's lovely character properties and creating Flatsville-on-Sea. It's very sad."

Cllr Whittaker said developers planning to build more than five flats in the borough should have to contribute towards affordable housing.

"Currently only developers building blocks of 15 flats or more have to make a contribution.

"What's happening is that they pick out a plot and apply for permission for fewer flats. When they've got approval they buy another plot and come back for more.

"The government needs to tackle this piecemeal approach because our hands are tied by current guidelines."

According to the council's own statistics, contained in the 2005/2006 annual monitoring report, 90.5 per cent of 1,227 new dwellings built in the borough during 2005/2006 were flats. Only 6.6 per cent were houses and 2.7 per cent bungalows, with three houses of multiple occupation erected.

The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole structure plan requires Bournemouth council to make provision for 12,400 new dwellings by 2011.

An average of 730 new homes need to be provided each year. But during 2005/2006 the council exceeded that figure by 497 new dwellings.

Earlier this week civic planners granted permission for 40 flats above Argos in Christchurch Road and gave the go-ahead for 36 apartments in Branksome Wood Road.

Developers of the Branksome Wood Road scheme have agreed to make a £1.27 million contribution towards affordable housing - in another part of town.