Developers who have submitted plans for a new community near Bearwood will pay £4.5million towards local infrastructure if the proposals are approved.
Poole-based developer WH White has lodged an application with Borough of Poole (BOP) to build nearly 700 homes, a 60-bed care home and a parade of shops and restaurants at land off Magna Road.
The Daily Echo reported BOP Merley and Bearwood councillor David Brown had voiced concerns about the impact of the development, called Cranford, on local roads. The councillor is working to organise a meeting for residents to address this and other concerns.
Meanwhile, a WH White spokesman said: “As well as meeting the need for new family homes, the application will secure 278 affordable homes and a circa £4.5m contribution towards local infrastructure and additional funding to help improve school and doctor’s provision in the local area.”
While the submitted plans include provision for a re-aligned Magna Road and new signalled junction for the development, it remains unclear if the £4.5m, to be paid through BOP’s Community Infrastructure Levy, could be used to further upgrade the local road network.
What developers have confirmed is that 278 of the 695 planned homes, representing 40%, will be provided as ‘affordable home.’
The spokesman said: “Cranford Park will also help to deliver a huge area of open space for the enjoyment of the entire community. Our planning application marks a significant boost to those seeking to get onto the housing ladder and has been positively prepared to fulfil, as closely as possible, the requirements of the policy for the site as set out by Borough of Poole in the adopted Local Plan. We look forward to our application being progressed in a timely manner so that we can move forward to realise the many benefits of the proposals.”
The development would be situated next to a 44-hectare Riverside Country Park, which has already been granted planning permission and will form part of the wider Stour Valley Park concepts, which stretches from Kingston Lacy to Hengistbury Head.
