A DECISION on a major development of hundreds of flats and a variety of retail space, an art gallery and a museum will not be made today.

Members of BCP Council’s planning committee were due to consider the Poole land Between the Bridges application at a special meeting on the afternoon of July 13.

However, at the start of the meeting this morning, where councillors are going ahead with considering a scheme hotels in Sandbanks, Cllr David Kelsey, planning committee chair, proposed that the Between the Bridges application should be heard at a later date.

This was sought to give planning officers time to “seek clarification” from the Environment Agency and Historic England, two statutory stakeholders, and further consider the stance of the council’s own design and conservation officers.

The application had been recommended for approval despite hundreds of objections, with opposition from the Environment Agency and the local authority's design and conservation team as well as Society for Poole, Poole Harbour Association and Poole Quays Forum.

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “We are genuinely sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. The decision to request a withdrawal of this item was not made lightly, and we are very aware of the high level of local interest in this application.

“That is why it is vital that our planning committee members have all the information required to determine this major application.

“The aim remains to have the application heard as soon as all relevant matters have been considered.”

The Between the Bridge scheme from develop Reuben & Morgan seeks permission for 454 apartments, food and beverage units, a new facility for Poole Rowing Club, a museum, leisure and gym areas, workspace, a management office and cultural spaces.

The development would feature nine separate buildings for the flats.