A couple who spent £3.5m on a dilapidated house on Dorset's Sandbanks peninsula have had their plans to redevelop the site refused. The property, sold in April, set a new record for the amount paid per square foot on the exclusive peninsula, according to estate agent Tailor Made.
The house, in Banks Road, offers sea views and beach access on one side and harbour views on the other. It was sold without planning permission, having originally been priced at £3.75m. The final sale price equates to £1,725 per square foot, said Adrian Dunford of Tailor Made.
Mr Dunford noted that only eight houses along that stretch of the peninsula provide views on both sides. The new owners, who have lived on Sandbanks for 20 years and have four children, wanted to clear the plot to build a five-bedroom home. The current property has four bedrooms, three reception areas and a double-length garage.
But Borough of Poole council refused the application for a four-storey house with a pool, saying the rear walls and balconies would project beyond neighbouring buildings, making it “exceptionally dominant and obtrusive” on the shoreline. David James Architects, which submitted the plans, said it would address the concerns and submit a revised application for a reduced building.
Managing director David James said the new house would include environmental features such as rainwater harvesting, solar panels, heat recovery, and air source heat pumps. Sandbanks remains one of the UK's most expensive addresses, with average property prices near £800,000, according to Zoopla. Well-known residents include football managers Harry Redknapp and Graeme Souness.
