Growth Points
Poole Town has a strong record of economic growth but its potential is constrained by the natural environment that makes it an attractive, and indeed expensive place to live. However, the concentration of brownfield sites in and around the central area offers a unique opportunity to provide a mix of residential, employment -related and commercial development, addressing issues on affordability and at the same time significantly improving the urban environment in a part of town not well served by development in the 1960's. In supporting Poole as a New Growth Point, the Government is entering into a long-term partnership with the Borough of Poole, recognising their ambitions for growth, subject to the statutory regional and local planning process.
Local Partners' ambitions for Poole include:
- The provision of 7,000 homes overall in the period to 2016
- Up to 2,000 affordable homes
- 4,000 new homes around the central area, promoting sustainable accessibility
- Public access to 800m of waterfront
- A major extension to the shopping centre and better bus station facilities
- A new railway station
- Employment floorspace in a quality environment, contributing to local aspirations to secure higher-end jobs in the area where house prices are high
Levels of growth will be subject to comprehensive testing and public consultation through the regional and local planning processes to ensure that individual proposals are sustainable, acceptable environmentally and realistic in terms of infrastructure. For Poole, future work will include using the findings of a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to inform decisions on locations of growth; assessing and mitigating the impacts of growth on local habitats and enhancing them whether possible; and working with the Department for Transport to assess the impacts of growth proposals on the transport network and to develop sustainable transport solutions.
Achieving these ambitions will depend on a range of public and private funding programmes, including developer contributions. Government is committing to work with local partners to achieve sustainable growth to get the best outcomes from the investment and to help overcome obstacles to delivery. In support of the Borough of Poole's growth ambitions Government is allocating around £780,000 in 2007/08 from the first year's funding pot, subject to detailed negotiations and appraisal. Future funding is dependant upon the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2007.
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