BCP Council holds £31m in unspent cash paid by housing developers
The figures come from the Home Builders Federation
More than £31 million, paid by property developers, remains unspent by council bosses.
Figures from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) show Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council holds £31.41 million in developer contributions, intended to upgrade infrastructure.
The unspent pot includes £10.08 million collected through Section 106 agreements and £21.33 million gathered via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
Across England and Wales, the housing industry body found unspent contributions, held by local authorities, have climbed to a record £9 billion.
The HBF has urged BCP Council to prioritise spending the funds, so residents can see the direct benefits of new housing developments.
It warned that stalling infrastructure delivery risks eroding public support for building new homes across the conurbation.
Section 106 contributions are legally-binding planning obligations, agreed between developers and councils, to mitigate the direct site-specific impact of a development, often funding affordable housing, immediate road adjustments, or local community amenities.
The Community Infrastructure Levy is a separate charge, local authorities can place on new developments, to help fund wider local infrastructure, such as transport links, flood defences, schools and green spaces.
BCP Council confirmed the figures originate from its 2024/25 Infrastructure Funding Statement, reflecting contributions held on April 1, 2025.
Leader of BCP Council, Councillor Millie Earl, said: “The figures quoted are a snapshot in time, from April 2025 and do not mean funding is sitting unused.
“Most of this money, around £23.3m, has already been allocated to planned infrastructure projects and will be spent, when those schemes are ready to be delivered.
“Developer contributions are helping fund major projects across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, including flood defence works, transport improvements and infrastructure needed to support future growth.
“They also help us to fund community-led projects, where residents have told us it matters most.
“Since 2021, we’ve allocated £3.9million to 265 projects, delivering everything from new play areas and community centres, to benches, trees and lifesaving medical equipment.
“This year, they’ve also helped restore tennis courts in Southbourne, support the redevelopment of Iford’s BMX club and funded brand-new play equipment at Riverlands, Seafield Gardens, Mandale Road and Slades Farm. We’ll soon be opening up the next round of applications, to allow us to go even further with the funding.”
BCP Council has said that £7.3 million has been allocated to the Poole Bridge, to Hunger Hill Flood Defence Scheme, to protect low-lying harbour areas from tidal flooding, £6 million is allocated to the Port of Poole Bridges Programme, maintaining vital transport corridors across Holes Bay and £5.5 million has been set aside for habitat mitigation.