Recent News
Updates will initially have a red border
BCP Draft Local Plan
Update 4 April 2025
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The Council is reflecting on its position and will consider next steps at a Cabinet meeting on 13 May and Full Council meeting on 3 June 2025.
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FCRA has collaborated with other Christchurch resident associations and written to BCP commenting on each section of the inspectors' report.
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Although BCP could have prepared this plan earlier, and provided more evidence on the reasons for their housing targets, the main issue is planning inspectors have ignored the many constraints that BCP face with identifying suitable development areas.
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The inspectors, in our opinion, are merely insisting on adherence to Government targets, which are unrealistic unless we lose huge amounts of Green Belt land.
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For now, the Christchurch Neighbourhood Plan will be reworked to align with existing Christchurch and East Dorset policies in order to proceed. This requires some guidance first from BCP which will take some time.
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Update 6 March 2025​
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After the initial hearings, the Government Inspectors have concluded that they do not support the plan at Stage 1 of the examination.​
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"After very careful consideration of all the evidence...we have unfortunately concluded that the Council has failed the Duty to Cooperate in respect of the preparation of the Plan​."
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"The Local Plan as submitted...seeks to deliver 1,600 homes per annum. However, this...does not meet the 2,806 homes per annum...housing need calculation for the local authority."
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It seems likely that BCP will now have to withdraw the plan from examination - we will update residents once we know more.
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The Inspectors’ letter outlining the reasons and the options open to the Council has been published on the BCP Draft Local Plan examination website and is available at the link below.​
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Further background information is available on the News & Initiatives page of this website.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​4 Apr 25
Devolution
Update
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BCP Council announced on 5 Feb that the Government had confirmed that Wessex has not been included within the Devolution Priority Programme.
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In a joint statement, the leaders of BCP, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Councils said:
"... the decision not to include Wessex within the Devolution Priority Programme is extremely disappointing"
​ "The area could now miss out on essential funding ..."
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The Council leaders will work together to understand the decision and the next steps.
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Click the link below to access the full update from BCP Council ​
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On 15 Jan BCP voted to align with Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire to join as a devolved Mayoral Authority.
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This was in reaction to the Government's insistence that any devolved authority must have a minimum population of 1.5 million.
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We are not sure yet what impact this will have on local residents, but further background information is available by clicking the links below.
Beach Access and Security on the Green
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Following the unauthorised travellers' visit in early August, FCRA has proposed a range of improvements to BCP
- Remove the green barrier gate (which is rotting and needs work) and install a drop bollard 25/30 feet down the slope to allow vehicles to get off road whilst unlocking
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Install a drop bollard & large boulders on the gravel/grass slope onto the green to stop unauthorised access​​
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Any decisions will have to be made by BCP but we will be lobbying for these changes
Steamer Point Heritage Information
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Various notice boards celebrating our area's important history have been installed
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Three metal 'totems' have been erected and through the reserve there are nature trail structures and signs explaining the purpose of the old buildings and sculptures
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There is also a woodland trail with notice boards and QR codes for more information
