COUNCILLORS will be asked to approve controversial plans to build hundreds of homes on land north of Bearwood when they meet next week.

The outline scheme for almost 700 homes, a community hub and a care home on land north of Magna Road, known as Canford Park, has attracted more than 300 letters of objection.

Despite this, a report published ahead of Thursday’s meeting of BCP Council’s planning committee recommends planning permission be granted, saying the “significant” benefits outweigh any harm.

Developer WH White Limited submitted its application in early 2019, following the allocation of the land north of Magna Road in Knighton by Poole council in the Poole Local Plan.

Its proposals cover 80 per cent of the allocated site which had been designated as green belt until its inclusion.

The scheme for the 79-acre site includes the provision of 695 homes, 40 per cent of which would be ‘affordable’, and a new community hub with a care home and retail space.

As part of the mitigation of the development, it also includes plans to double the size of the Canford Park Sang

A statement submitted by its agent, Chapman Lily Planning, said the development would “make an efficient use” of the land.

But more than 300 people have written in opposition to the scheme, raising concerns about the effect it would have on traffic in the area and its scale.

Among the objectors is residents’ group Bearwood Action Group and the Purbeck and Poole branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The latter said the proposals “represent overdevelopment in a sensitive area” and said there was “inadequate” infrastructure to support it.

The application includes a £1.9 million contribution towards a new bus service through the site and £3 million to expand education capacity with Bearwood Primary School already oversubscribed.

Magna Road is also included on one of the routes in the successful £100 million Transforming Cities Fund bid.

As a result of the objections, the application will be considered by the council’s planning committee on Thursday (March 18) with planning officer Steve Dring recommending it be approved.

“This site was intended to make an important contribution towards boosting the rate of housing delivery,” his report published ahead of the meeting says. “In doing so, [Poole] council was aware of the constraints and potential issues likely to arise.

“The significant public benefits of granting planning permission for up to 695 homes, of which 40 per cent will be affordable housing and a care home are considered to outweigh any areas of concern.”

As the application has mostly been submitted in outline form, final designs will also need to be submitted and approved before any work starts.