Sandbanks residents vote to ban overdevelopment

Homes in the affluent neighbourhood on the edge of Poole Harbour can sell for millions

Residents in one of the UK's most affluent costal neighbourhoods have voted in favour of a plan to ban overdevelopment along the peninsula.

Sandbanks, on the edge of Poole Harbour in Dorset, is one of the most expensive areas to live in Britain, with the average property costing £952,692 in 2023.

A one-off referendum allowed residents to have their say on a local plan limiting development in the area.

The Sandbanks Neighbourhood Forum's proposal to restrict future work was approved, with 96.6% voting in favour.

The action was taken by the forum in a bid to limit the growing number of waterfront homes being built along Poole Harbour and impacting sea views.

The result of the vote means a legally binding document will be produced, allowing the group to have a say on future planning decisions for Sandbanks.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) confirmed the result.

Norman Allenby Smith, chairman of the Sandbanks Community Group, said: “The result is very pleasing.

"It shows that the plan has the full support of the community and we can move forward with a strategy for Sandbanks that will make it an even more enjoyable place to live and visit.

"I think the reason the vote was so overwhelming was because there was a very thorough consultation process to determine what the community wanted.

"This now means that all future planning applications for Sandbanks will be decided in consultation with this plan, which is a legally binding document."