CIVIC officials have backed a scheme which could eventually see up to 350 new homes built near Hamworthy's Turlin Moor Recreation Ground.

Borough of Poole's (BOP) cabinet agreed to support further work, to the tune of £80,000, on the Turlin Moor North project.

This development project at the council-owned site in and around Turlin Moor Rec includes a pocket of land which used to be a household tip.

The council says, should the scheme progress, it could create better sports facilities and pitches, new community facilities and new access onto Blandford Road.

Cabinet agreed to allocate £80,000 to conduct further studies into the viability of the 7,766 ha site, and officials have insisted local residents will be consulted fully before any major decisions are made.

BOP planning and regeneration member Cllr Ian Potter said: "We're still in the early stages of assessing the key issues of the site which in turn will affect viability, but the scheme has the potential to deliver a significant number of new affordable homes for people living in Poole and secure much-needed investment in infrastructure and community facilities that would benefit local residents in Turlin Moor."

As part of its review of the Poole Local Plan, the council estimates 14,200 new homes are needed in the borough by 2033 to meet housing demand.

Cllr Potter said: "We are keen to work closely with the local community as we develop this scheme. The feedback from local residents during the public consultation on the Poole Local Plan was that any future development of this site should deliver essential community facilities.

"Under this proposal, the majority of the site would remain as public open space and benefit from significant improvement."

Part of the site was a former household tip, so a ground survey will be carried out, the council says.

It is also proposed that the six football pitches would be replaced on land to the west of the current rugby pitches.