Major plans for East Dorset

Christchurch Borough and East Dorset District Councils have published details of a document that sets out the vision for the future of the area for the next 15 years.

The Core Strategy document contains proposals which aim to improve the local economy covering the environment, health, homes, work, shopping, leisure and community needs up until the year 2028. It lays out how much, what type, where and how development should take place and how this should be catered for. The draft document will go out for further public consultation later this year.

The councils, who are in a shared-service partnership, are working together to deliver the strategy as it contains many policies which are common to both areas, although some relate to specific individual areas.

Major proposals include 3050 new homes in Christchurch and 5250 new homes in East Dorset being built between 2013 and 2028, with around 35 per cent of these being affordable. Included in these would be an urban extension at Roeshot Hill along with two new neighbourhoods in other locations in Christchurch. East Dorset would have new neighbourhoods at a variety of locations in Wimborne, Corfe Mullen, Ferndown, West Parley and Verwood.

Other proposals include further development at Bournemouth Airport, employment land in Ferndown, Verwood and Sturminster Marshall as well as improvements to prime transport corridors throughout the area.

Cllr Ray Nottage, Leader of Christchurch Borough Council said, “We are setting out a vision for Christchurch and what we want it to be like as a place to live in, work in and visit for the next decade and more. Our aim is to make it better.

“We aim to support and grow our local economy and the diverse factors within it. From the growth in our economy demand for sufficient housing for Christchurch people will also grow, including a need for more affordable homes. This will require significant development and high quality designs for the new neighbourhood projected at Roeshot Hill as well as smaller developments across the Borough.”

Cllr Spencer Flower, Leader of East Dorset District Council added, “The economy of the area will continue to grow, by sustaining the traditional sectors such as tourism, health and education, but also creating a mixed economy with emphasis on growth in new knowledge based sectors.

"Perhaps most important of all, our communities must be allowed to thrive.  There will be targeted regeneration to provide improved housing facilities, job opportunities and services across both districts.”

Special meetings have been arranged at both councils to allow members of the public to address councillors about the proposals contained in the Core Strategy. They will take place in Christchurch Council Civic Offices on Wednesday, 25 January; and at the Barrington Theatre, Ferndown (for East Dorset Council) on Wednesday, 1 February.

Members of both councils will meet to finally approve the strategy for public consultation at a joint council meeting on 5 March 2012. The public consultation will begin on Monday, 2 April 2012 running for a period of 12 weeks until Monday, 25 June 2012.

Full details about the Core Strategy and the process involved in the consultation can be found on the Councils’ website at www.dorsetforyou.com/348323.