PLANS for an acorn-shaped ‘eco home’ on Poole’s picturesque Evening Hill could ‘irreversibly damage’ the area’s beauty, neighbours say.

Charity Lewis-Manning Hospice wants planning permission for the one bedroom, three-storey property in Crichel Mount Road to help plug a funding gap for their £2.8million rebuild project.

Council officers were set to throw out the plans, which would involve chopping five protected trees, until councillors insisted on a full debate at a planning meeting tomorrow.

Five people have written letters backing the Tigers Eye architect’s ‘truly inspiring’ designs for the home, which would offer unrivalled views of Poole Harbour and the Purbecks.

But others have criticised the proposal.

Glyn Halliday, of Minterne Road, wrote: “The proposed eco-house will fundamentally change the impact of the crest of Evening Hill from being a beautiful sylvan feature visible from much of the harbour and from nearby roads.

“The proposed building would become the major feature of Evening Hill and irreversibly damage the beauty of the area.”

Supporters focus on the “stunning” and energy efficient proposals and highlight how selling the parcel of land will help Lewis-Manning fund its 23 bed residential hospice, which opens in May.

So far it has raised £2.1million.

A hospice Healthcare Assistant wrote: “I believe the legacy of benefits of care that can be provided to the people of Poole in exchange for this small bit of land far outweigh any other issues that there could be.

“Show your support to an amazing charity.”

Officers are recommending refusal based on the loss of protected trees and the lack of external space for the home.

They are also recommending refusal because it would prejudice an ‘important landscaped bank prominent within the street scene and wider shoreline’.

£700,000 still needed

POOLE charity Lewis-Manning Hospice cannot afford to open its new building fully.

Fundraisers are around £700,000 away from the £2.8million needed for the 23 bed-building project on Evening Hill.

Chief Executive Elizabeth Purcell said: “We’re short of about £700,000 to get us in properly and open the beds so this planning application is really critical.

“The people of Poole support the hospice and have done for 20 years, so we hope they’ll understand this is really key to us.”

In May, they will open the day hospice services and the lymphodema and breathlessness clinics, and introduce the residential bedrooms in a ‘phased way’ as funding comes through.

“If we can release the money for that land it would be absolutely brilliant for us,” Elizabeth added. “It would be a great push for us to get going.”

The hospice is in discussions with the PCT for help, she said, and thanked supporters who had helped them collect the ‘huge amount’ for the re-build.