BCP Council Local Plan moots housing developments at Hoburne Holiday Park, Burton Youth Football Club's playing field and farmland at Bransgore

BCP Council has stressed no decisions have been made over a list of proposed development sites including Hoburne Holiday Park, a recreation ground in Burton and fields near Bransgore.

The locations have been put forward by developers and landowners for consideration for hundreds of homes as the council develops its first Local Plan, which sets out planning policies and areas for building across Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole.

One plot is Hoburne Holiday Park where it was suggested 650 properties could be built, although a spokesperson for the company played down the idea.

“The council has in the past highlighted the park for potential residential development. However, just because it’s in the plan does not mean it will happen,” she said.

“Our holiday homeowners all have the benefit of long licences which protect their tenure.”

Several parcels of land are adjacent to Salisbury Road in Burton, including one promoted for up to 300 homes on a site that includes the local recreation ground which is home to teams including Burton Youth Football Club.

Another 200 are mooted for land east of Salisbury Road and south of Preston Lane, and a site on land west of it is also promoted, although the housing potential is not specified.

Burton Parish Council would only say it was working on a Neighbourhood Plan “to ensure that the community views and consensus on the sites can feed into the decision-making process on the Local Plan”.

Burton Youth Football Club declined to comment.

This summer an eight-week public consultation will be held. BCP Council said site allocations would be set out later after work to examine the local housing need.

BCP Council deputy leader Cllr Philip Broadhead said: “This is the first step on our journey to developing a Local Plan for the BCP area.

“We are clear that we aren’t predetermining or omitting any opportunities we have without hearing from our residents, businesses and visitors first.

“Therefore, all of the issues and opportunities are being put forward for public consultation.”

Three-hundred more homes are suggested for land at Higher Clockhouse Farm, Burley Road, on the edge of Bransgore.

The document added there is potential for 55 homes at water treatment works at Knapp Mill and Marsh Lane, Christchurch, while Avon Trading Park and Hawthorn Dairy and Hawthorn farm buildings in Lyndhurst Road, Bockhampton, could also be developed.

It noted agricultural areas which could be turned into employment bases, such as land west of Staple Cross, Salisbury Road, and sites that could be designated as public green space, such as Roeshot.

Cllr Broadhead, who is also cabinet member for regeneration, economy and strategic planning, said the plan needed to balance meeting housing, jobs and infrastructure needs with climate change targets and protecting green areas.

“We face huge challenges in meeting the government’s housing need targets, along with our own commitments to support the creation of 13,000 jobs and that is why this early consultation, which assures openness and transparency, is so important,” he added.

“I urge all our residents, businesses and visitors to have their say in this consultation which will help inform the development of a new Local Plan for the area.

“This will play an integral role in delivering BCP council’s Big Plan, so we are a world-class city-region, which truly values our culture and improves the quality of life for our communities.”