Outraged neighbours have accused a developer of 'adding insult to injury' after they submitted plans that would completely block their sea views months in to an already controversial project14:59, 28 May 2026Updated 15:07, 28 May 2026Furious residents say their lives are being 'ruined' by a developer who has outlined proposals to block their sea views - after promising they wouldn't when they began a controversial build. Eddie Fitzsimmons, owner of Vivir Estates, had pledged to allocate some green space during the luxury development of 27 flats in the affluent Southbourne area of Bournemouth, Dorset. But he has been accused of "adding insult to injury" by neighbours after he applied for new permission to build an additional two-storey detached house on the piece of land.‌Local resident Liz Bates, who like many others has lost her sea views to the development, has accused the developer of "going against every word and promise he has told local residents."‌‌She said a map for the main development is marked 'existing vegetation to stay as is'. Mrs Bates said: "The greedy developer has now put in another planning application for a two storey dwelling on the footpath right outside our house. I was fully expecting him to stoop this low."He has gone against every word and promise he has told the local residents and the only way to describe the feeling between us all is bitter hatred and anger towards him. He has quite simply ruined the lives of around 100 residents, without a single care for anyone. This was allocated as the only tiny bit of green space for the whole development."The two storey home would have its own roof terrace with an uninterrupted view looking out towards the coast - which she no longer enjoys. Other have said that if the new plans were to be approved, they would seek compensation for 'further restricting their views and privacy'.‌Ian Smith said: "This is yet another amendment to the original application and encroaches on the neighbouring flats both behind the development and at latitude west and east to the site, further restricting their views and privacy. It was categorically stated in the original application that this area was designated to green space only but now they want to squeeze another property into too small a space as it increases their profits. I believe that if the application is granted then there will be very good grounds for those being affected by it to sue for compensation."Kathryn Samson said: "Not only has this development been allowed to carry on under some very questionable circumstances but now the developer is waiting to obstruct yet another area for the surrounding residents by building yet another property. Has the council taken any consideration for the local community?"‌Mrs Bates says she has already been impacted by the development, as her sea views have been blocked by an illegal privacy wall. The 16ft by 8ft structure was added to one of the apartment blocks without permission.In February, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council refused retrospective planning permission for the wall - but instead of knocking it down, Mr Fitzsimmons' Vivir Estates has lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate in a bid to keep it. Pure Town Planning, in the design and access statement submitted on behalf of Vivir Estates for the added house, said it would 'enhance the character and appearance of the area'.Article continues belowThe report also states that the proposal would not negatively impact neighbouring properties and would help ease the local housing shortage, adding that the existing public footpath through the site would be "repositioned". BCP Council put the Southbourne Crossroads Car Park site up for sale in 2017 due to underuse, but went on to deny two planning applications for the site.They were overruled after Vivir Estates launched an appeal and a planning inspector sided with them, despite 1,500 locals objecting to the plans. Cllr Michael Tarling previously said at a council planning meeting: "It is absolutely obvious to everyone what the developer is doing which is to try and maximise sales revenue - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that. They thought they could try and sneak a wall in later and that is incredibly disingenuous."The Mirror has approached Vivir Estates for comment.