PLANS to build 5,000 homes on green belt land at Merley are among a raft of proposals set for public consultation, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Residents will be asked their views on a planning blueprint, containing more than 50 possible housing sites, that will eventually help shape future development in the borough until 2033.

Borough of Poole’s (BOP) Poole Local Plan Review will set out the preferred sites for development within Poole for the next two decades.

Possible sites identified for housing include 2,500 homes at Canford Park; 1,200 at Merley Park and 850 at Moordown Aerodrome.

Even the borough’s own Civic Centre is under the microscope – with a plan being considered to build 350 homes onsite overlooking Poole Park.

Bournemouth Echo:

Bournemouth Echo:

Here's a key saying how many homes could be built at each site on this map.

Bournemouth Echo:

Other possible sites in the consultation include 300 potential homes at Turlin Moor Recreation Ground, 130 at the Dolphin Pool and car park, and 250 at Seldown car parks.

Bournemouth Echo:

The consultation also includes a number of smaller sites – between 20 and 300 homes – at selected locations in Broadstone, Creekmoor, Canford Heath, Branksome, Newtown, Alderney Oakdale, Parkstone, Penn Hill, Hamworthy and Canford Cliffs.

Bournemouth Echo:

BOP needs to build an additional 5,000 new homes by 2033, to meet the growing housing need.

Poole’s current Core Strategy already sets out the borough’s approach to ensuring 10,000 homes are built by 2026 – but of the 14,200 new homes needed by 2033, just 9,200 are able to be developed on existing sites.

Civic officials are essentially asking the public what they think the best way to meet the 5,000 home shortfall is.

The consultation includes options to fit more housing on existing sites; to allow flats to be built in more places; to build on new urban sites within Poole; to build taller residential buildings in some parts of the town centre; or to expand the town outwards into the surrounding countryside.

The consultation also asks residents to consider a combination of these proposals.

BOP planning policy and implementation manager Nick Perrins said: “It is clear that we need to provide a mix of new homes that meets the needs of local residents both now and in the future.

“Therefore all possible known sites have been included in this consultation, including those that are being promoted by developers.

“No decisions have been on any of the sites so it is important that local people have the opportunity to give us their feedback.”

Over the next couple of months a host of drop-in sessions will be held across the borough, enabling residents to express their views on the sites outlined.

Further public consultation will take place on the final draft Local Plan in spring 2017, with a view to the plan being adopted in spring 2018.

The council wants to hear the views of people during the public consultation which will run from Monday, June 13, until Monday, August 8.

Residents can submit their views online at www.poole.gov.uk/localplanreview.

Paper copies are available in the planning reception at Civic Centre and at all Poole libraries.

Alternatively, You can also write to Local Plan Review Consultation, Planning Policy Team, FREEPOST RTKL-UYRB-SAXB, Borough of Poole, BH15 2RU.

Council staff will also be at a series of drop-in sessions to answer any questions about the options.

The drop-in sessions

  • Tuesday, 21 June 21 – Canford Magna Centre, Canford Magna, 1.30pm to 6pm
  • Wednesday, 22 June 22 – Committee Suite, Civic Centre, 1pm to 5.30pm  
  • Monday, 27 June 27 – Oakdale Library, 12pm to 5pm
  • Wednesday, 29 June 29 – St Gabriel’s Church, Turlin Moor, 12pm to 6pm  
  • Thursday, 30 June 30 – Poole Central Library, 1pm to 6pm
  • Monday, 4 July 4 – Creekmoor Library, 1pm to 5.30pm
  • Tuesday, 5 July 5 – Rossmore Library, 11am to 2pm
  • Wednesday, 6 July 6 – Broadstone Library, 11am to 4pm
  • Monday, 11 July 11 – Canford Cliffs Village Hall, Ravine Road, 2.30pm to 7pm
  • Tuesday, 12 July 12 – Bearwood Community Centre, 1pm to 7pm  
  • Thursday, 14 July 14 – Canford Heath Library, 10.30am to 3pm
  • Thursday, 21 July 21 – Hamworthy Library, 1pm to 6.30pm.