Published on Thursday 13 March 2025
Strategic spending priorities for the next five years have been outlined by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council’s Cabinet.
More than £24million of capital funding has been recommended for allocation by the Cabinet with a focus on delivering housing and regeneration across the three towns.
The multi-million pound funding is additional to existing expenditure and comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). CIL is a planning charge paid by developers which enables the Council to reinvest funds into vital projects and infrastructure to benefit communities.
£29.3million of this funding is available for BCP Council to spend over the next five years and the Cabinet has outlined four priority areas for the investment; £5.2million of the funds will remain unallocated for discretionary spend.
The four priorities are:
- Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill flood defence scheme
- Habitats site mitigation strategies
- Transport
- Bearwood and Merley education provision
Supporting these projects with CIL funding is essential to the future regeneration of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The priority areas will help support an expanded education provision in Bearwood and Merley – ensuring children can be taught locally.
It also supports the delivery of new homes to Poole town centre and the £7.3million approved for Poole’s flood defences means the Council would receive a vital multi-million pound grant from the Environment Agency – crucial for protecting the coastline from flooding erosion.
The flood defence scheme will protect homes from at risk of tidal flooding and unlock land for regeneration in Poole.
Habitats site mitigation strategies enable the Council to offset negative impacts of development on wildlife and, ultimately, will allow the Council to grant planning permission for more new homes as a result.
Cllr Millie Earl, Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said: “Strategic CIL funding is a vital capital pot, not at the cost of taxpayers, which allows us as a to Council to re-invest money into projects that we know will benefit communities.
“I am really pleased that we’ve been able to set out a vision for the next five years as to where this money will be spent – helping to deliver brand new houses and educational provisions for future generations.
“We will also invest this money into ensuring our coastline is protected as well as delivering important maintenance to transport infrastructure across our three towns.”
BCP Council’s Cabinet approved the allocation of Strategic CIL funding for the period 2024/25 to 2029/30 at a meeting on 5 March 2025; the recommendation will be determined by full Council at a future date.