Council's 24,000 homes plan thrown into doubt
BBCFuture plans for housing developments in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been thrown into doubt after inspectors rejected the council's Local Plan.
BCP Council proposed building 24,000 homes over 15 years - about 1,600 homes a year.
But government inspectors concluded they did not support the plan at Stage 1 of the examination.
BCP leader councillor Millie Earl said the council was disappointed but also "committed to working constructively on a way forward".
In a letter to the authority, inspectors said there was not sufficient discussion of unmet housing needs with neighbouring Dorset Council and New Forest District Council, and minutes or notes from those discussions had not been taken and provided to inspectors.
The letter says the council "failed to engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis during the preparation of the plan so far as it relates to the strategic matter of housing and that the Duty to Comply with the 2004 Act has not been complied with".
In December a BBC investigation found the vast majority of councils raised concerns about the government's flagship plan to build 1.5 million new homes in England over the next five years in a recent consultation.
Earl said the government had overestimated the housing need for the area, adding: "Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole benefit from being surrounded by a stunning coastline, a number of waterways and important, sensitive natural habitats.
"But this also means the area is limited in terms of available space to build new homes.
"We need national investment in our infrastructure to support more housing development."
Housing secretary Angela Rayner has previously insisted that councils must meet the government's housing targets.
The housing secretary said the government was listening to councils but the targets were mandatory.
She added: "We've got a housing crisis in this country and therefore I make no apologies for the mandate that we were given to deliver the homes that people desperately need."
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