£1m house in Canford Cliffs that's 24 years old is demolished

The family home in Canford Cliffs, built in 1998, was pulled down by diggers after being bought by an opportunistic property developer.

They controversially won planning permission to demolish it and squeeze two four bedroom houses worth £1.25m each on the same plot.

Peter Norrie, who lives nearby, said: "It really is scandalous that such a beautiful house that was only built over 20 years ago should be demolished in such a fashion.

"To be replaced by two new detached houses that do not fit in with the character or symmetry of the other houses on Compton Avenue and will be squashed onto the same site solely to bring in two council tax amounts."

Neighbour Chris Cotterell said: "They are demolishing a perfectly good building to put two up. There seems to be a lot of that going on and if that's the local authority's strategy there's not a lot you can do.

"There seems to be a policy that wherever they can they will knock a property down and build two. Years ago the plots were bigger but they are starting to squeeze properties on and it's getting tighter and tighter."

Meanwhile the residents are fighting to preserve four protected trees on the same site that are due to be felled as part of the development.

Despite being subject to Tree Preservation Orders, BCP Council approved the plans to have the mature Monterey Cypress trees felled.

The residents have appealed that decision to the Local Government Ombudsman and hope that nothing will happen until the watchdog makes a final ruling.

Mr Norrie, a 64-year-old retired banker, said: "In terms of the four trees at the very back of the garden, I have a complaint registered with the Local Government Ombudsman that is to be heard in six to eight weeks.

"The BCP Council's chief executive and the head of planning are fully aware of this complaint and that until judgement the four trees should not be touched.

"We do not want a repeat of the fiasco and illegal felling of 36 protected trees at Parkstone Golf Club less than 400 yards away in December 2018 from which the BCP Council still have not prosecuted the guilty party."

Mr Cotterell added: "Our main concern is that they are planning to cut down four mature trees that are at least 60 years old and appear to be in perfectly good health because they need the bigger footprint for the two houses.

"They are so strict about other homeowners pruning trees, yet it seems to be a different law for the local authority."

A spokesman for Charlew Developments, who is carrying out the work, said: "We have got full permission for everything we are doing there. We are not in breach of any regulations.

"The proposal introduces a high quality contemporary style design but with a traditional form, which creates two striking detached dwellings."

They added the two properties will make a positive contribution to the build and natural environment.