AN outline application for 550 homes north of Merley is being recommended for approval – despite local opposition in 2019 from more than 350 people, only two in support.

The most recent consultation resulted in 74 objections, none in favour.

BCP’s planning committee will be told next week (April 21) that the application, which includes a 62-bed care home, allotments, play areas and open spaces, for Richborough Estates should be delegated to the council’s head of planning to approve, subject to a series of conditions and payments in excess of  £7million being agreed.

Access to the site is likely to be via Oakley Lane.

The application has been under discussion since 2019 and has been amended several times including a reduction of fifty homes, compared to the original plans. It has attracted widespread opposition and led to the creation of an action group dedicated to trying to stop it going ahead.

The 45-hectare site is on the northern edge of Poole to the north of the Merley housing estate and to the east of a housing scheme at Oakley. It is bounded on one side by the River Stour with most of the site currently used for grazing by Cruxton Farm and is split by the A31, a footpath and a former railway embankment.

Part of the site adjoins the Canford Magna Conservation Area which includes the grade 1 listed Canford School building and Canford Park.

BCP housing say they would prefer most of the homes to be 2 and 3-bed with 40 per cent of the homes to be a “affordable”, split between 70% rented and 30% intermediate, although no agreement has been reached on this.

Historic England has said that it is concerned about the likely impact on Canford School while the Society for Poole says the scheme is a premature development when brownfield sites are available. It would like to see protection for ancient hedgerows if the scheme goes ahead.

Bournemouth Echo: The application site outlined in redThe application site outlined in red

Four rounds of public consultations have been held in recent years with the latest public objections include traffic concerns, a change of character for the area, the impact on historic sites, loss of green belt, the effect on wildlife, a lack of job opportunities, the housing mix and the impact on local drainage and sewage systems.

The developers will be expected to make a series of financial contributions if the scheme is to go ahead including £4.3m towards first and middle school expansion, £1.98million to improve local bus services,  £356,000 to support off-site small businesses and other contributions towards refuse collection and recycling; to support heathland management and tree planting and towards the creation of a nature reserve and walking routes. Contributions of £180,000 are also being asked for improvements to local sports pitches.