COUNCILLORS have called for a renewed attempt to secure a formal partnership between Poole and St John’s in Newfoundland, Canada. Members of the Poole charter trustees made the suggestion last week during discussions about the relationship with the town’s only twin – Cherbourg in France. The former leader of BCP Council, Councillor Vikki Slade, said it was “more important than ever” to secure links with other countries and that it would not be a taxpayer funded “jolly”. Links between Dorset and Newfoundland on the east coast of Canada date back centuries, particularly through the cod trade. Attempts were made several decades ago to twin Poole and St John’s – the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, but were not pursued because of the distance between the two.
A CGI of the proposed Kingland House development off the George Roundabout in Poole PLANS to build an 11-storey block of flats in the centre of Poole have been approved, despite criticism of a lack of any ‘affordable’ housing within them. BCP Council’s planning committee approved the scheme for Arndale House, off The George roundabout, which would see 128 flats and commercial units replace the existing building. Councillors said they were “incredulous” that no affordable housing was included but agreed to grant planning permission, saying it complied with council policy. Poole Property Investments submitted its application for the site, also known as Kingland House, in 2018, originally proposing 225 flats be built.
Green belt land in Throop and Holdenhurst has been put forward by developers FURTHER green belt development is being considered by BCP Council in a bid to build thousands of new homes. Even with a forecast of increased housing density and building heights in urban areas, the council predicts it will have a shortfall of 5,500 homes against the government-set target. As a result, it has agreed that every green belt site put forward by developers be included in its Local Plan consultation this summer. Councillor Mike Brooke, who heads up the working group overseeing the planning blueprint, said “at this stage, this is the only way forward”.
A CGI of the proposed development in Princess Road, Bournemouth A COUNCIL scheme to build more than 100 – mostly affordable – flats in Bournemouth has been given the green light. BCP Council’s planning committee approved the Princess Road scheme on Thursday, despite being warned it could lead to the loss of every tree on the site. But even with permission having been granted, work cannot start until it has approval for a Sang, the same situation that has caused the Winter Gardens development to stall. The £32 million development of the former Victorian villas in Princess Road was agreed by the council’s cabinet in 2019 as part of efforts to boost the number of ‘affordable’ homes being built.