Nearly 1,000 new homes to be built in Christchurch town centre with 25 planned for Two Riversmeet leisure centre car park, according to BCP Council’s Draft Local Plan.

NEARLY 1,000 new homes are expected to be built in Christchurch town centre over the next 16 years, BCP Council’s Draft Local Plan has revealed.

This is from a total of 3,365 across the town’s five wards, comprising schemes already given planning permission, homes allocated, and those anticipated through ‘windfall’.

The council’s Draft Local Plan outlines its strategy for development allowed across the conurbation until 2039.

Plans for the town centre include 950 homes, including 25 on part of Two Riversmeet car park among 240 eyed for Stony Lane South.

A further 270 homes are also planned for the Commons ward, which includes Hurn; 130 in Burton & Grange; 585 in Highcliffe & Walkford; and 1,430 in Mudeford, Stanpit & West Highcliffe, which includes 875 at Roeshot Hill, off the A35.

There was controversy last year when pressure group Christchurch Citizens’ Association called an urgent meeting to debate the impact of new planning policies being drawn up for the town’s Local Plan.

It said it was “concerned” about some of the sites the council had highlighted as being suitable for development.

Some of those have been dropped from the Draft Local Plan while others have been retained.

According to the document: “Residential development will be supported in the town centre where it complements the retail, leisure/tourism, and employment function of the town centre, and where it provides well-designed high quality living environments that include a mix of unit sizes and the provision of outside amenity space for residents.”

Land at Stour Road has been “allocated for residential use” for 20 homes of between two and four storeys high.

Avon trading park is set to accommodate 20 homes, while at the former magistrates’ court in Barrack Road approval for homes has already been given, of which 40% must be affordable housing.

Subject to flood assessments, in Stony Lane South a “minimum” of 240 homes has been allocated, with 150 built on the former gas works and a further 85 on the Beagle site. At Two Riversmeet it is proposed 25 homes will be built to the west of the leisure centre which will be retained with “sufficient parking to support its operation”.

The draft plan also says that new cycling routes and an improvement to bus services will help offset possible increases in traffic caused by the developments.

In Burton around 130 homes are allocated, of which 20 have already been approved. Another 40 are proposed with 70 coming forward as “windfall opportunities” – an area not specifically allocated for development but which “unexpectedly” becomes available during the lifetime of a plan.

In Hurn 130 homes already have been approved while a further 140 are expected to be built on sites including the former Queensmead care home in Fairmile Road.

In Highcliffe and Walkford a minimum of 585 homes will be built in “local opportunity areas” which include Lymington Road and Waterford Road where homes must be “no more than one additional storey above the building context height” and need to “preserve the setting of Grade II listed Greystones”.

Cllr Vikki Slade, leader of BCP Council and portfolio holder for Dynamic Places, said: “Bringing forward a new local plan for the BCP area is a significant milestone. Once adopted, it will provide clarity and consistency to our planning approach.

“The Local Plan will also be supported by 33 individual ward policies, which all councillors have had the opportunity to help shape.

“As we progress, it is vital that we continue to engage with and inform our residents.”

The council’s overview and scrutiny committee is set to review the draft today (Wednesday) and, subject to agreement, it will go out for public consultation in January next year.

The plan can be viewed at https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=609&MId=5779