Property firm gets green light for £15m affordable scheme
A Dorset property company has been given the green light to press ahead with a £15m housing development.
AJC Group has received a resolution to grant planning from Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Council for phase two of its £15m affordable housing development in Branksome Park, Poole.
Construction work is already well under way for the first phase of the brownfield redevelopment project.
AJC Group is delivering the affordable housing development in partnership with Abri – one of the largest housing providers operating in the south of England.
Approval for the second phase of the scheme will enable delivery of a high-quality contemporary, design-led development, which has been designed by Christchurch-based ARC Architecture.
The scheme includes 16 one- and two-bedroom apartments constructed across a striking three-storey residential building.
The first phase of the scheme – 7-9 Lindsay Road – includes 28 two-bedroom apartments, which will be made available to purchase via shared ownership. The first homes will be ready for occupation in 2024.
David Cracklen, director of AJC Group, said: “We are thrilled to receive approval from BCP Council for this design-led affordable housing scheme.
“Although we achieved planning permission for a 100 per cent open market scheme, our Lindsay Road site will be delivered as 100 per cent affordable. These 44 one- and two-bedroom homes for Abri will meet the needs of local people, who couldn’t otherwise get a foothold on the property ladder here.”
“With Branksome Park being one of the most desirable places to live across the whole of Dorset, the need for affordable housing is far greater. Local people want to live in the community they grew up in, with a choice of high-quality homes that provide a route to home ownership. These well-specified homes are likely to appeal to key workers who are vital to the local community and the economy.
“We are very pleased with the construction progress being made for the first phase of this scheme and look forward to welcoming new residents next year.”
Lindsay Road is located within the Poole Sustainable Transport Corridor. The development is close to the local centres at Penn Hill Avenue and Poole Road, and the site is also under a mile from Parkstone District Centre, which features a diverse range of food stores, shops, services, and public transport facilities.
There are bus stops on Lindsay Road and Penn Hill Avenue, and Branksome train station is less than half a mile away. The scheme will include 35 car parking spaces and cycle storage to accommodate up to 76 bicycles.
Steve Taylor, head of land and planning at Abri, said: “We recently celebrated the completion of our first collaboration with AJC Group at Violet Cross in Hazelbury Bryan in Dorset, and just like those homes we hope to make a real difference for people locally at Lindsay Road.
“There is significant demand for one- and two-bedroom properties, and with the increased cost of living, the need for affordable housing is even more apparent. With consent now granted for the next phase of development, we can focus on delivering high quality homes to help strengthen the community.”
“Abri is dedicated to supporting communities and we’re committed to innovative partnerships such as this which will deliver vital affordable homes for the area.”
