Vivir Estates Ltd previously submitted plans to build the apartment block but they were rejected unanimously by the council, following a long campaign by residents.

In March, residents celebrated the news that the car park in Southbourne wouldn’t be built on.

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• Residents celebrate decision Southbourne car park WON'T be built on

However, they are once again taking up their campaign as the developer has resubmitted an amended version of the plans.

The new application is for the ‘erection of 4 blocks (total of 24 flats) with bin and cycle stores and formation of vehicular access and associated undercroft car parking.’

Amendments have been made in response to comments made on the previous refused proposal, the application says.

These include: “The top floors of three of the four buildings have been further inset from the floors below. This is to reduce the mass of the top floors.

“Block D has received a complete redesign in order to make the building significantly smaller. The block has been amended to reduce it to two no. units and the single storey wing of the building has been omitted entirely. This is to provide a space for public amenity green space.

“Further to these changes in massing, the materials to some areas have been amended, introducing brick to the rear elevations of the four buildings, reducing the prevalence of copper cladding in these areas.”

Campaigners in Southbourne are calling on residents to once again submit their objections to the application, after the last one received 657 individual objections.

The deadline to object to the new revised plans is August 23.

Campaigner Lucy Beale said: “If the ‘revised’ development goes ahead, we will still lose 78 parking spaces, plus all the spaces on the overcliff, two cars per household, plus the valued gardens destroyed and built upon.

"All the protected beautiful wildlife destroyed and hedgerows, the loss of the historical vista and light, the general lovely open space which is so valuable to life and mental health, the encroachment of our neighbourhood, the effect on local businesses, the new bistro to be built.”

Other objections include the geographical and environmental impacts of drilling close to the cliff top, the dangers of traffic and illegal parking in the summer and the average price of the flats not being affordable.

Lucy added: “I know it’s easy to think there’s no chance of winning again and that money always wins but that’s not true. Community and unity and people win. We fought before and we must fight again and put the final nail in the developers coffin and keep our open spaces.”

A planning, design and access statement by David James Architects & Partners Ltd on behalf of the applicant Vivir Estates Ltd says: “The proposal has been conceived through a detailed understanding of the site and that it will neither harm neighbouring properties or the character of the area.

“The proposed buildings sit comfortably within the plot and are of a scale that are subservient to its surroundings. The designs are in keeping and respect the character of Southbourne Coast Road, as well as the wider context and character of the area.”