THE head of housing at Bournemouth council said that there are “no plans” for its private housing companies to work on projects outside of the borough’s boundaries.

Concerns have been raised that its merger with Poole and Christchurch authorities could enable it to work on developments in the neighbouring areas through its partnership with Morgan Sindall, Bournemouth Development Company.

However, at Thursday’s meeting of the shadow authority scrutiny committee, councillors were told by Bournemouth council’s head of housing, Lorraine Mealings, that there were “no plans” to extend its remit beyond the borough.

Bournemouth Development Company was set up by the council and Morgan Sindall in 2011 and is overseeing the redevelopment of 16 town centre car park sites for housing.

In November, Cllr David d’Orton-Gibson, a member of the firm’s board, sent an email to Conservative councillors saying there was nothing to prevent it working on projects outside of the borough.

He said that this would allow the company “to become a vehicle to further improvements across a wider area”.

However, concerns have been raised that the larger number of Bournemouth members on the new council could enable it to force unpopular developments in Poole or Christchurch.

On Thursday, Christchurch councillor Sue Spittle asked Bournemouth council’s head of planning, Lorraine Mealings, whether the possibility of extending the company’s remit into Poole and Christchurch.

Ms Mealings said: “There are no plans for any building through Bournemouth companies outside the borough of Bournemouth.”