A ‘NEW community’ on green belt land is among the ideas which could change the face of Poole over the next two decades.

As a major consultation on future development in the Borough gets underway this week, the Echo is taking a closer look one of the most controversial suggestions in Borough of Poole’s Local Plan Review.

This planning blueprint will eventually help shape future development in the borough until 2033, setting out where 5,000 as yet unallocated new homes should be built during that period.

While the council has said building within the town will be the first course of action, it has also outlined plans to expand to the north on greenbelt land.

By far the largest of the sites identified for possible housing is Canford Park, a 222 hectare site in greenbelt land to the North of Magna Road, close to Canford Arena.

Landowners have approached the council with the vision of creating a ‘new community’ of 2,500 homes here, with supporting infrastructure and employment.

Their proposal includes plans for public open space at the former Canford Magna Golf Course, where an application for gravel extraction prior to the creation of parkland was refused just last month.

A ‘local centre’ and primary school would be needed, and developers have suggested Canford Arena could provide new employment land to support the new community.

In addition the council has earmarked Merley Park, a 60 hectare site west of Merley and south of the A31, for another potential ‘new community’ of 1,200 homes. And between the two sites the Moordown Aerodrome is also listed as a possible site for 850 homes, as well as employment and open space.

Drop-in sessions will be held across the borough, enabling residents to express their views on the sites outlined, the first of which is on Tuesday June 21 at the Canford Magna Centre, Canford Magna from 1.30pm to 6pm.

Nick Perrins, planning policy and implementation manager, Borough of Poole, said: “We would like to encourage as many residents as possible to attend the drop-in sessions and give us feedback.”

See www.poole.gov.uk/localplanreview for more.