A report into a major housing project in Poole is being withheld from the public.
BCP Council’s Audit and Governance Committee discussed the follow-up report on Carter’s Quay on May 28, but it has not been made available because it is considered exempt information at this stage.
The site was bought by BCP Council in late 2021, with Inland Homes due to build 161 new homes. The council paid £15million to the firm for the development, which had been expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Inland Homes went into administration in October 2023. In March 2025, the committee was told a full investigation would not be appropriate while negotiations with the administrator were still ongoing.
An update report was later agreed, focusing on BCP’s wider approach to regeneration. A July update looked at the timeline of decision-making for Carter’s Quay, and councillors then asked for more information in several areas.
Councillor Eleanor Connolly, chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, said the work “can potentially have a real impact on current and future events” and that negotiations over the council’s right to the land are still ongoing.
She added: “As a committee we do not want our work to act against the interest of BCP residents.”
Other councillors raised concerns about transparency. Councillor Joe Salmon described it as “a matter with immense public interest” and said he felt “incredibly uncomfortable” restricting information involving public money.
Councillor Michael Tarling said there was “a legally privileged aspect” to the report, while Councillor Stephen Bartlett questioned why publication was not being left to the committee to decide.
Photo: Ground breaking event in 2022 at Carters Quay, Poole by Inland Homes. Nish Malde, Cllr Daniel Butt, Sarah Longthorpe, Cllr Steve Baron, Cllr Philip Broadhead and Paul Burgess.
