A planning application to redevelop part of a former employment site for 138 homes has been submitted to the Borough of Poole, but will not provide any affordable homes.
The application at Sopers Lane is one of many being considered by Borough of Poole that fails to deliver any affordable housing. This is against the policies set out in the Council’s adopted Local Plan that seek to secure 40% on-site affordable housing, subject to viability.
Given Sopers Lane is outside of the town centre, the difficulty in providing affordable housing in the urban area is evidently widespread. The application comes just days after the release of new data showing that house prices in neighbouring Bournemouth have sky rocketed.
Brett Spiller of Chapman Lily Planning commented ‘The shortage of affordable homes is acute and there is a risk that this will begin to adversely affect the local economy. Fortuitously, the Council is proposing to release land from the Green Belt in north Poole for new housing development. As demonstrated by Barratt David Wilson’s recent proposal for 324 homes, strategic sites in north Poole are capable of delivering policy compliant levels of affordable housing and this helps first time buyers onto the housing ladder.’