As the Local Plan hearing sessions held discussions on the Green Belt yesterday, we discuss the role of Green Belt release in helping to meet our national housing challenges.
The construction of new homes is a continual necessity as our population continues to grow rapidly, especially with the younger generation, who more than ever require new and affordable homes.
Although a sensitive issue, release of land from the Green Belt for development is an important element in meeting the country’s and local housing challenges.
Like in many communities, the Borough of Poole cannot meet the need for housing on brownfield sites and non-green belt sites alone. The emerging Poole Local Plan therefore identifies two locations to be released from the Green Belt for urban extensions. This includes land at Bearwood for an allocation of a minimum of 800 homes and a 60-bed care home at site UE2 - North of Bearwood.
There are many benefits to delivering virgin sites over those in more urbanised areas. For instance, green field sites often command a lower cost (in terms of land value and development costs) when compared to more central and urban locations, this means the quantity of affordable homes developers can put forward is often greater than urban brownfield developments. The new homes for Canford Park could also address Poole’s need for family houses, which will complement the predominantly flat prioritised schemes in urban areas. Canford Park will also provide a 60-bed care facility for the elderly which will respond directly to the quickly growing need for such facilities across Dorset.
Furthermore, new physical and social infrastructure will meet the needs of existing communities as well as meeting the demand of the new residents of the Canford development. It is also common that undeveloped sites can be progressed at a quicker rate, meaning that the delivery of new homes is realised sooner – an especially important consideration in Poole where demand easily outstrips supply. Indeed, quicker delivery of affordable homes will be welcome news for those aspiring to own their first home.
Although a significant issue, Canford Park is not just about providing family homes. Canford Park would facilitate and enable the delivery of a huge 44-hectare area of natural green space for public access, also opening unparalleled public access along the southern bank of the River Stour where hitherto no such access has been available for public enjoyment. This area will provide a considerable leisure resource with a plethora of opportunities for recreation and exercise. As swathes of academic research has shown, such green facilities that enable people to reconnect with nature have a significantly positive correlation with mental well-being, strengthening immune systems and being more appreciative and respectful of the natural environment. Overall, the provision of such an area of green public space has the potential to create healthier and happier communities in Poole and will go some way to protect the Dorset Heathlands by providing a preferred alternative for dog walkers and ramblers who currently have no alternative other than to use the near-by Dorset Heathlands.