A city by the sea

From April 2019, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will be combined into one new unitary authority, ‘Urban Dorset’. What does this mean for the urban area of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP)?

Urban Dorset

The creation of ‘Urban Dorset’ will mean BCP becomes the 12th largest local authority district in England in terms of population with 394,000 people. This is more people than Cardiff, Southampton, Brighton, Portsmouth and Exeter and only 14% fewer than Bristol.

What does ‘Urban Dorset’ mean practically?

By combining the three boroughs together, BCP will have new opportunities. Being larger it will have a greater influence in Government which will help it to attract significant funding through City and Growth Deals.

For example, the £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund through which the West Midlands has been awarded £250m for improving transport. Being a larger area and more influential, it is also more likely to be able to attract more private sector funding.

The merger will enable the new council to restructure its workforce (reducing the roles which overlap between the three boroughs and allowing for more specialist roles) and it will be able to have one relationship with its neighbours, the LEP, local businesses and landowners, the airport and the two universities amongst others.

The opportunity for ‘Urban Dorset’?

Combining and concentrating its resource and attracting greater investment will mean that BCP will be able to take a more strategic approach to the planning and growth of the urban area.

In its recent statement of intent, the LEP aims to pursue formal core city status for BCP and support masterplanning across the urban area. From forming a new Local Plan to funding infrastructure improvements within the urban area to improve connectivity, the merger will allow change to move from piecemeal improvements to wholesale enhancements.

Additionally, combining to become ‘Urban Dorset’ will enable the area to create a new brand for itself as an appealing place to live, work and visit. The LEP has big ambitions to increase GVA across Dorset by 50% by 2038 and create 80,000 additional jobs.

By reinvigorating itself and becoming a thriving city, BCP has the opportunity to lead the way in transforming the image of the area and driving growth.

Key recommendations and opportunities for ‘Urban Dorset’

1. Plan strategically across the whole urban area to deliver a joined up approach to growth
2. Use its greater influence as the 12th largest district to attract public and private sector funding
3. Improve road and rail links across the urban area and to its neighbours to ease movement and allow growth
4. Brand the area to bring in more commerce and high value employment building on its lifestyle offering
5. Build 2,160 homes a year by developing suitable brownfield sites and releasing Green Belt land
6. Better connect the business park at the Airport to Wessex Fields and other business centres to promote growth and support the LEPs plans
7. Promote, facilitate and develop the ‘Digital village’ at Talbot Village alongside the universities to accommodate tech and creative start-ups
8. Expand 5G pilot to enhance digital connectivity for all businesses including marine engineering sector based in Poole Harbour
9. Repurpose vacant retail for other uses to increase footfall
10. Invest in key public realm improvements to revitalise core shopping areas