The Western BCP Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 9 October 2025 to consider planning applications and an appeals report. The main item for consideration is a planning application for the construction of three new dwellings at 54 Howeth Road in Bournemouth. The committee will also review the council's appeal performance over the past two years.

54 Howeth Road Planning Application

The committee will consider a planning application for the construction of three new dwellings on land to the rear of 54 Howeth Road, Bournemouth. The applicant is named in the report pack as Mark Parsons, with Darren Henderson of Studio Maiva acting as the agent.

The application proposes building a pair of three-bedroom semi-detached houses and a two-bedroom chalet-style detached dwelling. Access to the site is planned via the existing private driveway for 54 Howeth Road, with a shared driveway and communal parking area for the new dwellings.

The application site currently comprises the rear garden of 54 Howeth Road and a plot of undeveloped land. It is located within the Dorset Heathlands buffer zone and the New Forest zone of interest.

Councillor Stephen Bartlett referred the application to the planning committee because of concerns that the proposed development does not complement the character of neighbouring development, provide adequate privacy, or enhance the amenities of future and neighbouring residents, and improve biodiversity and habitats, contrary to several local plan policies.

A number of representations objecting to the proposal have been received from occupants of neighbouring properties, raising concerns about:

• Loss of privacy
• Impact on wildlife
• Scale and design
• Noise and loss of amenity
• Parking and access
• Unsightly parking area
• Poor location of bins
• Impact on biodiversity

The planning assessment in the report pack identifies the key issues as the impact on the character and appearance of the area, the impact on the residential amenity of neighbours, parking and transport issues, and biodiversity net gain¹ and heathlands.

The report pack notes that BCP Council had a housing land supply of 2.1 years against a 5 year housing requirement as of 1 April 2024. Because of this, the report pack states that it is appropriate to regard relevant housing policies as out of date.

The report notes that the proposed development would result in the loss of a wild green space, but that the space is privately owned and not publicly accessible.

The report pack states that the council's ecologist has flagged the need to ensure that any works ensure that protected species are not compromised and that the Biodiversity Nett Gain (BNG) requirements are met in full, and that appropriate conditions are recommended.

The report pack also notes that the site is within 5km of a designated Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area² (SPA) and Ramsar Site³, and part of the Dorset Heaths candidate Special Area of Conservation⁴ (SAC). As such, a financial contribution towards mitigation measures is required.

Formal advice from Natural England⁵ (NE) has been given to the council regarding the recreational pressures being placed on the New Forest's European designated sites. The report pack states that any additional residential development within 13.8km of the New Forest should not be permitted without first securing appropriate mitigation.

The report pack recommends that planning permission be granted subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement⁶ securing New Forest mitigation, Heathland Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy⁷ (SAMM) mitigation, and BNG monitoring fees, as well as a number of planning conditions.

Appeals Report

The committee will receive a report updating them on planning appeal decisions determined by the Planning Inspectorate[^9] for the last 2 years. The report provides information on the council's appeal performance and highlights any key decisions or learnings.

The report pack states that the national government monitors the 'quality' of decision making in planning through appeal performance, measured by the percentage of planning decisions overturned at appeal. The government target is a maximum of 10% of decisions being overturned at appeal.

The report pack states that the Local Planning Authority is performing within target for the Quality of Planning decisions. It notes that in August no appeals were allowed, with one appeal being declared as 'invalid' by the Inspector because of the absence of the required BNG information.

The report pack includes a summary of why the appeals in the month of June were allowed. For example, an appeal relating to 40 Brownsea View, Avenue, Poole was allowed because the inspector did not agree that the proposal would result in substandard accommodation, or harmful overlooking or loss of privacy.

Appendix 1 of the report pack provides a list of current appeals.

Public Speaking

The agenda includes an opportunity for members of the public to speak on planning applications being considered at the meeting. According to the Protocol for Speaking-Statements at Planning Committee, a maximum combined time of five minutes is allowed for those objecting to an application, and a further five minutes for supporters.

Confirmation of Minutes

The committee will be asked to confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2025.