Harbourside Park (Whitecliff & Baiter)
Last updated 16 March 2022
The Project
Developing a Masterplan for Harbourside Park
from Fishermans Dock at the east end of Poole Quay to Turks Lane and everything in between
Harbourside Park
Harbourside Park is one of Poole’s most treasured open spaces and a fabulous place for everything from play to relaxation. Loved for its proximity to Parkstone Bay, Poole Park and Poole town centre, with beautiful views of the Purbeck Hills it is a place everyone can enjoy.
Currently shackled by deteriorating infrastructure, buildings in need of renovation and investment and with facilities which are well past their end-of-life stage, Harbourside Park is in urgent need of upgrading to be fit for modern use and to fulfil its potential for years to come.
Masterplan proposals, March 2023
Poole-based ECA Architecture and Planning were commissioned in September 2022 to develop a Masterplan vision for the site. The Masterplan will help to shape the park over the next 10 years.
During September 2022 we collected your thoughts on how this should look, through an online survey, interactive map and engagement events at Baiter Kiosk and Whitecliff Pavilion. This was the just the first phase of the development of the Masterplan and sought new ideas from park users and others interested in the future of the park.
ECA have now produced a series of recommendations for the park, which were the subject of a well-attended public engagement event held in Poole on 16th March 2023. The key proposals put forward are shown below:
Below you will find plans & images illustrating the various elements of the proposed Masterplan in detail:
Proposed Spatial Layout
Sports & Play Provision
Habitat Areas
Activity Hub
Water-based Activities
Sports Pavilion Whitecliff
Harbourside Pavilion Baiter
Design & Management
Potential Timeline
Next Steps
Next we need to take the Masterplan and report to Cabinet, which is likely to happen in summer 2023.
If the Masterplan is approved, work will commence on a number of reports and other approvals that will be required – which can be found listed on page 3 of the ‘Design & Management’ PDF linked to above.
Also at Harbourside Park
Sluice Channel
The water which feeds Poole Park Lagoon comes from the harbour and passes through a channel under Baiter Park and the railway line. It was built in the 1960s and is constructed of metal sheet piling topped with a reinforced concrete slab. Due to the harsh salt water environment, the sheet piling has heavily corroded along much of the channel and is in need of substantial repair (illustrated below). To date, reactive patch-up work has been undertaken as and when needed in order to maintain the channel and keep both Harbourside Park and Poole Park functioning as open space for park users.
Ground investigation work has been undertaken and information collated will inform designs for renovation of the sluice channel. This will ensure that Harbourside open space can continue to be maintained in the same or better condition. It will also safeguard Poole Park Lagoon so that it can be emptied and re-filled into the future, protecting this important wildlife haven and recreational facility. The next step is to seek funding for the work to be undertaken.
Looking through the sluice channel towards Poole Park
Looking through the sluice channel towards Poole Park
Close-up of corrosion on sheet piling
Close-up of corrosion on sheet piling
Close-up of corrosion on sheet piling
Close-up of corrosion on sheet piling
Previous improvement projects
Segregated Cycleway 2022
Aiming to create a safer environment for people travelling on foot or by bicycle within Whitecliff and Baiter Park, BCP Council widened the busy waterside path from Turks Lane to the sluice gate at Whitecliff. This has created a safer protected cycleway and pedestrian footpath, which could then be complemented by two North/South links connecting to Whitecliff Road. Find out more here.
Following public consultation funding was received for the project with work taking starting April 2022. The new segregated cycleway features in an Active Travel England video featuring David, 86, who lives in Poole and uses his e-trike to get about …
In the recent past we have also:
- removed the old and dilapidated wooden fence along the bottom edge of Whitecliff Woods
- aerated the land for better drainage at Baiter
- surfaced new routes to connect existing footpaths
- installed new outdoor fitness equipment (further information here)
- created a new planting scheme along Sandbanks Road (see below)
Harbourside Park (Whitecliff & Baiter)
Project details
Budget Masterplanning £50,000
Funding Planning Obligations Parkstone Casual Play & Amenity Open Space
Masterplan Development ECA Architecture and Planning
Project Leader Reuben Hawkwood
T. 01202 123432
E. environment@bcpcouncil.gov.uk