CONTENTIOUS plans to deliver a major housing development of up to 600 homes and a 62-bedroom care home on fields in Merley have been submitted to the council.

An outline application has been put forward by Richborough Estates Limited for the 114 acres of land north of Oakley Lane.

Residents have been preparing for the scheme to be formally submitted for several months.

A protest was held last year and a meeting was attended by more than 200 people last month to discuss the proposal before they had been filed. Another meeting by the Save Land North of Merley group is due to take place tonight at 7.45pm in Merley Community Centre.

Birmingham-based firm Richborough Estates Limited’s plans include new access roads, public open space, allotments and play areas to accompany the housing.

The application to BCP Council seeks permission for the principle of development and five access points to the site from Oakley Lane.

A planning statement completed by Savills on behalf of the applicants says: “The planning application has been carefully assembled and prepared over a significant period of time.

“It conforms with all of the relevant policies in the adopted Local Plan and central government planning guidance.”

It adds: “This application is made on the basis that the land owners and Richborough are committed to bringing forward this strategic allocation in a timely manner to ensure prompt housing delivery can be achieved on the site as required by the council.

“This will make a valuable and direct contribution in assisting the council to meet its strategic housing target and facilitate the necessary stepped change to housing delivery rates required in the Local Plan.”

The site was earmarked for housing development in the Poole Local Plan and released from the Green Belt by Borough of Poole last year.

Savills say the Local Plan did not deem it necessary for the development to include a new doctor’s surgery on site.

In relation to schools, the policy document said a new school was not necessary but instead contributions would be required towards providing additional school capacity.

However, Savills say BCP Council has set out three mitigation scenarios, which include two that would involve a new primary school and the other involving an expansion of Bearwood Primary School, Merley First School and Allenbourn Middle School.