Taylor Wimpey hope to start Canford Park work in October

Residents previously criticised the felling of several “beautiful” oak trees down Knighton Lane as part of road extension works for the new Canford Park development in Poole.

The trees were cut, with more also set for felling, along the narrow Knighton Lane in order for the carriageway to be widened to 6.3m along with a 3m footway.

The Canford Park development proposes 695 new homes, a 60-bed care home, community hub and £10.6million in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in former green belt land north of Bearwood.

An artists impression of the Canford Park homes development in Bearwood, Poole (Image: Taylor Wimpey)

Taylor Wimpey submitted its reserved matters application for phase one of the development in January 2022. The application is still being considered by the BCP Council. Phase one plans include 269 houses, retail units, office units and the community hub building.

Following resident criticism of the decision to allow the trees to be felled, a BCP Council spokesperson said: “The removal of trees along Knighton Lane has been consented by the approval of the hybrid planning application, to facilitate the construction of the access road to the development site along and off Knighton Lane.

“In this regard, whilst some aspects of the proposed development were the subject of outline permission and therefore require the approval of further reserved matters submission(s), the construction of the access road and associated removal of trees was the subject of full planning permission and therefore can be implemented without the necessity for any further permission from the Local Planning Authority.

Knighton Lane after several oak trees were felled

“The proposed removal of the trees in question was clearly indicated in the plans and documents that were submitted as part of the hybrid planning application, including the submitted Arboricultural Impact Assessment.

“This application and all submitted plans and documents were subject to extensive consultation throughout the application process with the local residents and community, as well as the relevant statutory consultees, fully in accordance with the consultation requirements by the Local Planning Authority that afforded the opportunity for representations to be submitted in response to the development proposals.”

Taylor Wimpey also told the Echo that a Landscape and Ecology Management Plan has been submitted to the BCP Council.

In addition, they said: “Once the pre commencement conditions are approved construction will start on the site, which is anticipated to be in October 2022.”