A MAJOR part of Poole's town centre regeneration which appeared to have stalled, now seems to be back on track.

Two years ago planning permission was granted for a £50-million plus Poole Gateway development at the railway station and former goods yard in Serpentine Road.

The plans include a new railway station, hotel, offices and homes but the legal agreement between the Borough of Poole and the developers has not been signed.

This major scheme aims to deliver a new glass railway station with transport interchange for taxis and coaches, an 11-storey hotel with 103 bedrooms and six blocks of 265 flats, 66 affordable.

Office space, cafes, restaurants and a 250-space multi-storey car park, tree-lined avenue and a new pedestrian/cyclist bridge across the railway line to Sterte are included.

Richard Shaw, head of planning for Savills, representing Network Rail, Kier Group and Bellwinch Homes said the hold-up was due to contractual matters between landowner and developer.

"By the time we got to the stage of forming a resolution to approve through the planning process, the contract between the developer and Network Rail had expired and had to be redrawn.

"That's now resolved and we are looking to reactivate discussion with the local authority," he said. The scheme remains the same, he said but there are a few minor design refinements to be sorted out before work can start on constructing two new railway sidings parallel to the existing ones.

This is not the only major Poole scheme which has significantly slowed, the former power station site at Hamworthy and delivery of the Twin Sails Bridge has become bogged down in lengthy negotiations.

Jim Bright, strategic director for the Borough of Poole said such delays were to be expected with projects the size and complexity of the Gateway scheme.

"Well reported events around global financial markets are also making it more challenging to bring large scale developments forward," he said.

"However, despite these circumstances, we are confident a high quality development will be achieved on what is a prime site near the town centre as Poole remains an attractive proposition for inward investment."

Plans at a glance:

  • Glass railway station and travel interchange
  • 11-storey hotel
  • Offices
  • Flats scheme
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Multi-storey car park
  • Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians
  • Tree-lined avenue