BCP Council withdraws Queensmead application to turn it into a homeless hostel

A controversial plan to turn a former Christchurch care home into a homeless hostel has been withdrawn by BCP Council which says it will now carry out more consultation with the community to decide on its future.

There was huge opposition to an application by the council to create a 20-room adult-only facility at the home in Bronte Avenue which is a residential area and near three schools.

Around 150 angry residents packed a meeting of Christchurch Town Council to protest about the plan claiming there were safety concerns for children in the area.

Despite being assured by council officials at the meeting that those living there would be “nil to low risk” there have been ongoing campaigns to stop it, with one petition attracting nearly 800 signatures.

Work on the building to transform it into a hostel was due to start soon with it opening later in the year.

But after a meeting between council officials and ward Christchurch town councillors Vanessa Ricketts and Margaret Phipps, BCP has announced it is withdrawing the application.

In a statement, it said: “The current planning application associated with Queensmead for a change of use is in the process of being withdrawn.

"This decision has been taken to allow us to engage with the new administration of the council following local elections last week. We will also begin a process of fully engaging with the community to discuss both the future of the site and how best to meet the council’s temporary housing and extra care statutory requirements.

"Future applications for any change of use at Queensmead would have a dialogue with residents, ward councillors, Christchurch Town Council and the town’s community at its core."

Cllr Vanessa Ricketts told how she and fellow councillor Margaret Phipps approached council officers at the end of the recent election count to ask if they would have a meeting to discuss the planned change of use.

She said: “Myself and Margaret met with very senior officers and we put forward the community’s concerns and the feeling that Queensmead just was not the right place for a hostel.

“When we were canvassing during the election, the question of what would happen at Queensmead and people’s worries about it were raised frequently. I am glad to say they listened to us.

“They have agreed to withdraw the application and engage with residents living in the area.

“There are going to be site visits with councillors and other interested parties and discussions with locals about what the future of the building will be. We are absolutely delighted with this result.”

Cllr Ricketts said the council had assured her and Cllr Phipps that “there will no further application for any change of use at Queensmead without full engagement with us and the community.”

When the news of the application being withdrawn was posted on social media there were mixed reactions, with some welcoming it and others saying it was a “disgusting example of ‘not in my backyard’.”

Another said: “These are human beings who often ended up homeless through no fault of their own.”

But one resident said: “This site, near three schools and a care home, is just not the right place for a hostel.”