Archived decisions

Contact: Stuart Roberts, ext 6782 email: [email protected]

1. Background

1.1 The South West Regional Assembly is preparing a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South West Region. It has initiated a study of South East Dorset to inform the preparation of the RSS. The Assembly has commissioned the South East Dorset strategic planning authorities - Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council and Poole Borough Council - to lead the study. The work is being undertaken in partnership with all local authorities in the area, and a number of key social, environmental and organisations. Councillor Chapman has represented Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Spatial Strategy at the Member meetings about the study.

1.2 The three authorities are undertaking consultation on issues and options for South East Dorset looking ahead to 2026. In late 2004 they published a document `Looking to the Future: South East Dorset in 2026'. It seeks views from individuals and organisations on a proposed vision for South East Dorset, on three alternative strategies for achieving the vision, and on the impact that would arise from a significantly increased rate of development.

1.3 Comments were invited by 31 January 2005. The very short period for comment was dictated by the tight overall timetable for the study. In order to meet the consultation deadline, a draft of the recommendations in this report was sent to the South East Dorset authorities subject to confirmation by the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy.

2. The Draft Vision for South East Dorset

2.1 South East Dorset, focused on Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, is one of the South Coast's major economic, educational and recreational centres and is a key driver in the South West region. With a population of over 400,000 it is the second largest urban area in the South West.

2.2 The proposed vision for the future is that "In future South East Dorset will strengthen and develop its role within its outstanding environment and be recognised internationally as a prime example of a sustainable conurbation". The vision goes on to elaborate this into specific economic, social and environmental objectives.

3. Alternative Strategies

3.1 Over the next 20 years or so, change is inevitable for South East Dorset. The three authorities believe that the area will grow in population and in the need for housing and jobs. The South West Regional Assembly has asked the authorities to consider ways in which growth could best be accommodated. They have postulated three strategies, which are purely illustrative and should not be regarded as separate `packages'. The consultation document says there may be aspects of one which can be combined with another.

3.2 The three strategies are:

(i) Urban containment and urban extension - development limited to existing settlements.

(ii) Urban containment and urban extension - as (i) plus extensions to the principal urban area of Poole-Bournemouth-Christchurch and to some other settlements.

(iii) Large scale development close to the urban area - creation of a new settlement/significant expansion of an existing settlement.

3.3 The consultation document includes a sketch plan for each strategy to illustrate the principles involved. The sketch plans for strategies (ii) and (iii) include a line to illustrate the principle of urban extensions/large scale development. Land within Hampshire to the north and east of New Milton/Barton-on-Sea is included within the illustrative areas for urban extension/expansion.

4. Future Rate of Development

4.1 Over the past century Bournemouth, Poole and the surrounding towns of South East Dorset have grown rapidly. In the 1970s and 1980s the area was one of the fastest growing conurbations in the country. The housing slump of the late 1980s and early 1990s, together with the effect of Green Belt policies, has meant that the rate of housing and other development has slowed down over the last 10 years. Planned growth for the area is 1,400 dwellings per annum and the South West Regional Assembly has asked that the effect of increasing this rate of development by up to 50% is examined.

4.2 The consultation document outlines some potential effects of continuing the current rate of development or increasing it. The advantages of the former are seen as less land needed for development and lesser threats to the area's special environment. Investment could continue to be focused on the regeneration of areas with social, environmental and/or economic problems. The advantages of increased development are seen as more affordable housing for local people, more investment available for environmental improvements, and the opportunity to bring in new people with skills, talents and creativity.

5. Comments

5.1 Containing development within the existing settlements (strategy (i) above) would have least impact on the adjoining areas of Hampshire. However, there could potentially be adverse implications for other parts of Hampshire, if this meant that development pressures were deflected to other parts of the South West Region, such as Salisbury, which are also near to Hampshire.

5.2 Although only illustrative, it is nevertheless appropriate at this stage to comment on the principle of the possible expansion/extension of New Milton/Barton-on-Sea. The proposed boundary of the New Forest National Park closely surrounds New Milton and Barton-on-Sea while adjacent land, which is not within the proposed Park, is covered by the South West Hampshire Green Belt. Any significant scale of development would seriously erode the Green Belt and would also be likely to have an adverse impact on the proposed National Park by placing additional recreational pressures on it. There may be scope for minor changes to the Green Belt boundary to allow some small scale development particularly to provide affordable housing, but these would be detailed changes made through the preparation of the New Forest District Local Development Framework and would not be of sub-regional significance.

5.3 Although the effects of an increased rate of development will largely be felt within South East Dorset, there are potential implications for Hampshire. A higher rate of development would increase the need to look at options for urban extensions, thus bringing into sharper focus the issue, dealt with above, of land around New Milton/Barton-on-Sea. Increased development will also mean greater generation of road traffic, some of which will be longer distance business, leisure and freight movements through Hampshire to/from South East Dorset. An increased population would mean more recreational pressure on the New Forest. Assurances are also needed on whether development in South East Dorset, especially at a higher rate, will be within the environmental capacity of the area and that infrastructure enhancement will match it. For example, waste water treatment facilities will need to be expanded to ensure that there is no diminution of water quality in the English Channel.

5.4 Hampshire County Council has maintained a position of resisting development within South East Dorset that could transfer additional traffic onto inappropriate local roads through the New Forest. Examples of this are the need to ensure that a link road to the A338 is provided as part of any business development at Bournemouth International Airport and concerns over the impact of traffic generated by significant new development close to the Hampshire county boundary.

5.5 Further technical information is required to assess the potential transport implications arising from the development options in the South East Dorset Study and to identify appropriate transport measures to mitigate potentially severe traffic impacts. Information has been requested which will enable the County Council to comment more definitively in the next round of consultation, on the implications for local roads in the New Forest.

Recommendation

That Bournemouth Borough Council, Poole Borough Council and Dorset County Council be advised that Hampshire County Council:

(i) would oppose any substantial development within Hampshire around New Milton/Barton-on-Sea and asks that this option should not appear in any strategy for South East Dorset;

(ii) is concerned that development within South East Dorset could potentially have adverse impacts on adjoining areas of Hampshire and seeks assurances that the scale of development eventually chosen will be accompanied by adequate and timely improvements to infrastructure; and

(iii) is concerned at the possible implications of development on traffic flows between Hampshire and South East Dorset, and therefore reserves its position in relation to the appropriate scale of future development pending receipt and analysis of further technical information on the traffic implications.

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