THE first stage of a huge proposal for hundreds of homes on ex-green belt land in Poole has been lodged in a new planning application.

Referred to as Canford Park, the overall proposal for 695 new homes, a 60-bed care home, community hub and £10.6million in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 payments, was sent back to BCP Council’s planning committee to be re-examined last year.

Members approved the outline plan for the land north of Bearwood, north of Magna Road, and east of Knighton Lane for a second time in August 2021.

Now, developers Taylor Wimpey have tabled the first reserved matters application for 269 homes and a community hub on the southern section of the site.

A statement submitted with the plan states 115 of the homes would be affordable, split between 80 affordable rented home and 35 shared ownership.

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Developers say 128 of the homes would be two-bed units, 84 would be three-bed and 57 would be five-bed.

The first phase of scheme includes a gateway at the entrance of the development from both Magna Road and Knighton Lane.

There is also a sequence of public open spaces with “different characters depending on their role within the layout”.

The applicant states there will be a clear distinction between public and private areas which would be enhanced by “characterful frontages that ensures all streets and open spaces are well overlooked creating a safer environment.

Building forms are drawn from the surrounding context such as Lady Wimborne cottagesand there will be the use of key buildings to turn corners or create distinctive frontages around key open spaces to frame views, create pinch points between groups of buildings and active frontages in sensitive areas.

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Taylor Wimpey said the hub was “carefully designed” after meetings with BCP Council.

The statement said: “This first phase of development will deliver 269 dwellings, of which 115 are much needed affordable homes.

“Alongside the residential element is the ‘Community Hub’ which will deliver 363 square metres of community use floor space, 335 square metres of retail and 285 square metres of office space.”

“It will also deliver the play space central to the entire scheme.”

When plans were first submitted for the overall development, more than 300 people wrote in objection to the scheme, which forms 80 per cent of a former green belt plot allocated to the Poole Local Plan for more than 800 homes.

Stephanie Thorne, of Bearwood Action Group, raised concerns about the impact the development would have on traffic, saying the decision was being made on “unproven assumptions” that new residents would walk, cycle or take the bus instead of their private cars.

Council planners are currently assessing the application.