by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
UP to 500 homes for Crossways could be approved today (Thur 07th) – despite some local opposition.
Planners are being asked to consider a full planning application for 99 open market homes and an ‘in principal’ application for 401 – on a site south of Warmwell Road.
The full application, from C&G Properties, includes a new doctors surgery, a replacement village hall, a car park, a new village green, new vehicular and pedestrian accesses and alterations to Warmwell Road.
The larger scheme, which is in outline only at this stage, includes open market and affordable homes, 2.5hectare of employment land, new vehicular and pedestrian accesses, new roads, footpaths and cycleways, a car park for the proposed Site of Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) and 2 pumping stations; and a full application for the change of use of 22.4ha of land to Site of Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).
The plans have been in the pipeline for more than ten years with the site earmarked in the Local Plan for a mixed-use development.
Planning consent has been granted for the site before – in 2017 and 2019 with progress stalled by a failure to reach agreement between the developers and the council over a series of pre-construction conditions, which was followed by new national planning guidelines being introduced together with nutrient neutrality requirements for areas where water courses flow into Poole Harbour.
Crossways parish council have raised comments about the phasing of the new village hall and doctor’s surgery – claiming they should not be left to the final phase of the development as both needs are now urgent. It says the surgery should become a Health Hub, open to a wide range of health professionals. Moreton parish council has supported the comments.
Objections from residents concern claims of urban sprawl, loss of natural habitat, additional traffic together with infrastructure pressure and a failure to consider alternative sites.
