The Police Station Site, Christchurch

Project overview

• Cratus’ were instructed by housing association Aster Group to help them to gain planning permission from BCP Council’s planning committee for their 169-unit mixed use redevelopment featuring open market and sheltered housing, retirement living and commercial / community space, on the former police station and magistrates’ court site in Christchurch, a key town centre site and high-profile to the local community.

The Challenge

• The sites were high-profile in key positions in the town centre and there was initially strong local opposition.

Our Approach

• We  worked closely with the project team and landowners to demonstrate support from the silent majority in the town and were then able to convince Councillors that any perceived issues were outweighed by the many benefits brought by the redevelopment of an underused brownfield town centre site.

• We undertook political and community engagement throughout, from first announcing the project to the community, to pre-application consultation, communications support during submission of the planning application and updates of the scheme, through to support raising and planning committee preparation. Activities included:

The application was approved by BCP Council by a comfortable majority.