CHRISTCHURCH residents have been casting their eyes over potential development ideas for a former council depot.

New homes, business units, leisure facilities, shops and schools are just some of the options being put forward for the depot at Grange Road, which is currently owned and operated by Christchurch Borough Council.

On Wednesday scores of people attended public consultations about the development at East Christchurch Sports and Social Club and Mudeford Wood Community Centre to have their say over what should be built on the 2.9 acre plot, which was previously earmarked as a possible travellers’ site before being ruled out by the council back in 2012.

Mudeford residents Brian and Mary Thompson said they would welcome new business units at the site and the jobs it would bring to the borough.

“Whatever is built has got to get the younger generation into work,” Mr Thompson said. We don’t need any more hotels. They are already building more homes. We need places for people to work.”

Liz Sabey and Dave Weston, who are both members of Bure Court Residents’ Association, said they would like to see a mixture of buildings.

Mrs Sabey said: “I want to make sure the employment and industrial units would create the same rate of employment.

“There is very little opportunity in Christchurch to build affordable homes,” she added. “We need to see a mixture of the two.”

Mr Weston said: “We need more smaller houses. People want to downsize and they can’t.”

Jon Gateley, planning consultant at Savills, said the firm welcomed feedback from the local community. “This is an important part of getting an agreed strategy for the site and seeing what people think,” he said.

“There are quite a few different combinations which we think could be acceptable. This gives a flavour of what people want.”

Mr Gateley said the “most likely” option includes building a mixture of new homes and business premises.

Over recent years, the council’s use of its depot at Grange Road has reduced, and is likely to reduce further when Dorset Waste Partnership relocates to other premises shortly.

Exhibition material will be on show at the civic offices in Bridge Street until Friday, October 31, or at dorsetforyou.com/ grange-road-depot.

Responses must be submitted by Wednesday, November 19. They will be taken to the council’s community services committee on December 17.