THE council hopes its efforts to bring forward development on a large site in Poole will be a trigger for regeneration in the town.

Poole is described as having "some of the largest regeneration sites" in the BCP Council but the town has suffered in recent years with "relatively high proportions" of empty retail units.

That is the assessment put forward in the BCP Local plan issues and options consultation document.

The local authority's redevelopment of the former power station site along with improvements at the bus and railways stations and resolving concerns of the High Street level crossing are some of the priorities in the proposed town centre strategy.

The consultation document identifies Poole's "rich maritime history", noting that the historic quay and old town are key attraction.

Special mention is also made for the Dolphin Centre as the only fully indoor shopping complex in the conurbation and the largest arts venue outside London, the Lighthouse.

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Summarising the current situation in the town centre and potential for the future, the document says: "Poole also has suffered from changing retail demands with relatively high proportions of empty shops.

"The centre contains some of the largest regeneration sites across the BCP area and the council hopes to act as a catalyst for regeneration by bringing forward development on the former power station site.

"The area north of the railway line also offers considerable scope for improvement."

According to the consultation document, BCP Council's proposed strategy for Poole town centre could include increasing the number of people living in the town centre, like in Bournemouth, creating abetter sense of arrival into the area and considering a reduction in the size of the shopping area to create opportunities for residential uses in High Street.

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Other priorities proposed include:

  • redeveloping the former power station site and supporting the regeneration of adjacent sites to create a vibrant urban neighbourhood.
  • allowing some taller buildings in the regeneration area and the area north of the railway line.
  • better connecting the Lighthouse with the rest of the town centre by reconfiguring or closing Kingland Road.
  • refurbishing or replacing the Dolphin Leisure Centre to provide a fit-for-purpose leisure centre.
  • preserving or enhancing the heritage areas, with a focus on the Quay and Old Town, through the Heritage Action Zone project.
  • delivering strategic flood risk defences to protect the town centre from future flood risk.
  • embracing community-led and cultural initiatives that support regeneration.
  • enhancing wayfinding/signage to help improve connections between the Quay and the rest of the town centre.