Council chiefs 'concerned' over plan for private hospital on farmland near heath

Conservative administration chief Drew Mellor said he was aware of the importance of the Highmoor Farm and Talbot Heath area to residents and he was “nervous” about any future development.

Fellow Talbot & Branksome Woods councillor and local authority deputy leader Philip Broadhead said they were “absolutely all over” the situation in relation to Nuffield Health’s plans for a new hospital.

As reported, Nuffield Health and Talbot Village Trust, who own the land near Bournemouth University’s main campus, are close to completing a deal for the site.

• Read more: Nuffield Health hospital plan on Talbot Village Trust land

Hundreds of residents have signed a petition in opposition to the proposal, which has not seen a planning application submitted yet.

Cllr Philip Broadhead

Speaking during a recent live BCP Council broadcast on Facebook, Cllr Broadhead said the site was identified for development in the previous Borough of Poole Local Plan.

“We have got some concerns about what we have seen, particularly the extent of the development. I think there were plans for a four-storey car park, which in this very delicate location would clearly not be right,” said Cllr Broadhead.

“It is worth saying this isn’t about Talbot Heath. This is a current farm that is already there but I do think there could be a solution.

Nuffield Healt's Bournemouth Hospital in Lansdowne Road

“What we are looking at exploring with the landowners there is that farm that is there is kind of a part of the local community and whether there was a way to look at trying to protect that in the future.

“So, we will be exploring first of all if those proposals do come forward, are they right, are they too big, are they going to be relevant for the residents and make sure we speak up on behalf of that.

“Secondly, look at some innovative ways because there are urban farms all around the country that work and become more of a community asset - wouldn’t that be fabulous to kind of retain that in some form.

“The final point is around biodiversity. This is a really, really sensitive ecological area and biodiversity is really important, particularly here.”

• Read more: Petition against new Nuffield Health hospital in Poole

Highmoor Farm near Talbot Heath. Picture: Google Maps

BCP Council has adopted new government legislation early around new developments needing to make biodiversity of an area better.

Cllr Broadhead this was particularly relevant when looking at a site such as Highmoor Farm.

He added: “We will be looking at any planning application if it comes in. We are also going to explore creative solutions on how we can potentially look at trying to not just increase biodiversity but maybe even look at the future of that farm for a more long term basis.”

Cllr Drew Mellow

Cllr Mellor said the local authority was “starting a really good dialogue” with site owners Talbot Village Trust.