BOURNEMOUTH residents are less likely to have their own outdoor space than anywhere else in the region, according to government data.

Now BCP Council is being urged to take this into account when considering social distancing measures during the coronavirus crisis.

Government think tank Centre for Cities said more people live in flats in the town than any where else in the south west.

It says having enough room is important for people to be able to cope with current Covid-19 restrictions, and that councils should bear this in mind when considering social distancing measures.

The analysis shows that 38 per cent of people in Bournemouth lived in flats in 2019 compared with the England and Wales average of 30 per cent.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “As we all learn to live with the lockdown, having enough inside and outside space is a real help for some people.

“But where housing is the least affordable, people are less likely to have access to their own space – either in a flat or house or in the garden.

“That’s something we know councils will be considering when they weigh up calls to close off green spaces.”

The research also looked at data on the size of public parks and gardens in built-up areas.

It found that those in Bournemouth wanting to do their once-daily exercise would have 7.9 square metres per person, according to 2018 data.

Across England and Wales, the urban area with the most open space per person was Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, with 47.0 square metres, while Worthing in West Sussex had just 3.9 square metres.

Nicola Hodgson, from the charity Open Spaces Society, said the disparity was partly due to a lack of legal requirements around what public outdoor space councils must provide.

She added: “The present restrictions on public movement have highlighted the importance of the accessibility of open space that is near to where people live.

“Going forward it will be important to ensure provision of open space is adequately protected.”

According to the group's findings, Bournemouth residents had an average of 40.3 square metres of residential space per person in 2018.

But this was still more than the average of 35.5 square metres across England and Wales – roughly equivalent to the area of 14 double mattresses.