PLANS to build 32 retirement apartments in Poole are being recommended for approval.

McCarthy and Stone submitted new plans for the Tower Road site earlier this year, months after a smaller 28-flat proposal was granted planning permission.

Now Poole council is being asked to approve a larger scheme for the site following opposition from neighbouring residents about the impact an additional floor will have on the area.

Three previous applications to redevelop the site have been granted permission – two 14-flat schemes and plans for 28 retirement apartments.

The latest proposal is one storey higher than the latest approved building and would accommodate an extra four flats.

All of the apartments would be restricted solely to people over the age of 60.

Despite the previous approvals, the latest application has been called-in for consideration by Poole council’s planning committee by Cllr May Haines due to concerns from neighbouring residents.

More than a dozen letters of objection have been lodged in response to the application, including one from the Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs residents’ association, about the height the building would be.

However, a report to the planning committee says that the size of the block would not be out of character for the area.

“The proposal is in a cluster of purpose built flats here, with Dolphin Court to the south (nine storeys) and Rozel Manor (eight storeys) to the rear being higher than the current proposal,” it says.

“The proposal is no higher than neighbouring blocks of flats.”

The report adds that the scheme complies with the council’s planning policies and recommends that planning permission be grante.

“The proposal provides four additional units of specialist accommodation for the older market, an identified need in the core strategy and emerging local plan,” it adds.

“It is in a sustainable location served by buses and close to the Westbourne centre and is supported by planning policy.”

It adds that application should be granted with a requirement that McCarthy and Stone make a contribution of more than £1m to the council.