Poole

Richborough successfully promoted a 111-acre site on Oakley Lane, Wimborne, culminating in outline planning permission being granted by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in February 2023. Oakwood Park is now being brought forward by Cala Homes Thames, with homes available to view here.

Following in-depth pre-application engagement, including two public exhibitions and a Design Review Panel as well as extensive collaboration with local stakeholders. We were able to remove the former greenbelt allocation and shape a sensitive and sustainable masterplan. Planning was achieved for:

• Up to 550 new homes (including affordable housing)
• A 60-bed care home
• Allotments, children’s play areas, a community car park, and significant public open space
• Over 16 hectares of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)

Site Context
The site lies adjacent to existing development to the south and borders the River Stour to the north. It’s uniquely positioned between two Conservation Areas – Canford Magna and Oakley Lane – and is traversed by the historic carriage drive of Grade I-listed Canford School. The site also contains listed buildings, Lady Wimborne Cottages, and a number of Tree Preservation Orders, with parts of the SANG located within a floodplain.

Masterplan Highlights
Our illustrative masterplan responded to the site’s constraints and opportunities with:

• Four distinct character areas, influenced by the local Dorset vernacular
• Integration of existing landscape features to create strong green infrastructure and heritage buffers
• A robust, adaptable framework to guide detailed design through the Reserved Matters stage