A COMMUNITY group is fighting to stop the site of a historic hotel at Sandbanks being developed and 'lost forever'.
Sandbanks Community Group (SCG) has launched an ambitious crowdfunding campaign for its own plans to see a hotel retained at the site.
The scheme, designed by “internationally renowned architects”, would also see a public sea-swimming lido added to the site along with a seafront esplanade including a promenade, cafes, and shops.
Norman Allenby-Smith, chairman of Sandbanks Community Group, said: “Currently both hotels on Sandbanks are closed and fenced off for half the year. Making Sandbanks a year-round destination, to support local jobs, enterprise and opportunities is integral to our proposal.
“Our community led plan aims to improve accessibility with new walkways linking the ferry to the beach and offering enhanced public facilities.”
The group says it wants BCP Council to consider an alternative scheme to Fortitudo’s plans to replace the Sandbanks Hotel, Haven Hotel and Harbour Heights Hotel with new hotel, apartment, and leisure complexes.
Fortitudo's plans for the site
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Amended plans were submitted in May last year after flooding concerns were raised which saw the proposals refused by BCP Council in 2022.
Sandbanks Community Group says redeveloping the Haven Hotel site “would close the landmark hotel location at Poole’s harbour entrance, to the public, forever”.
The group says the most “ambitious” part of its proposal, which is named Project Marconi referencing the hotel’s most famous resident, Guglielmo Marconi, is plans to include a beacon tower which would “house luxurious hotel suites looking out towards Old Harry and the Jurassic Coast”.
It added: “Both the community and the architect are committed to preserving 1930s ‘marine’ style architecture, in addition to retaining the mature trees and doubling the amount of existing soft landscaping.”
The group says its goal is to create an ‘urban coastal park’ at the end of the peninsula and its ideas include “exploring the potential of utilising new sea defences to establish a sea swimming lido, and public walkway, while at the same time using these sea defences as artificial reefs to attract marine bio-diversity”.
It added: “Recognising that the absence of viable alternatives might lead BCP Council planners to greenlight the current application for three towering blocks of private flats, SCG remains hopeful that the site’s current owners, will be receptive to any approaches by investors or hotel groups inspired to bring these ideas to life.
Mr Allenby-Smith added: “We understand that the planners can only comment on proposals that are put in front of them.
“That’s why it’s so important that they have an alternative to private flats to consider.
“Our plan is with the council at present, as are the plans for the flats. We are looking forward to the best outcome for all the people of Poole and the wider community.”
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