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Canford Heath is a suburb, an area of heathland, and an electoral ward in Poole, Dorset. It is known for being the largest heathland in Dorset, and the largest lowland heath in the UK. It is also the name of the housing development built on the heathland in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. At the 2021 census the population of the ward was 14,387.
In the early 20th century, Canford Heath had many different uses. In 1929, a hillclimb event for the "Motorcycle and Light Car Club" was staged here, and during the Second World War, the heath was used as a munitions storage. In 1938, most of the heath burned in a series of large fires.
In 1944, it was suggested that Canford Heath should be "preserved from business development" after the War, although in 1946, a plan was issued by Professor Abercrombie that suggested the use of Canford Heath as a housing development, in preference to building in the New Forest. In 1947, there was another large heath fire.
Building work began on a housing development in 1963 in South Canford Heath, whilst Parkstone and Poole were relocated to the edge of the heath in 1962 and 1968 respectively, and the first combined school opened in Canford Heath in 1970. Housing development began in 1973 in North Canford Heath, and in 1980, International Supermarket and formerly Somerfield (now Asda) became North Canford Heath's first supermarket.
In 1984, planning permission was given for development of all of Canford Heath, providing that the site did not become a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). In response, an application was made in 1985 for much of Canford Heath to become a SSSI, due to the rare habitat and wildlife on the heathland. The application was accepted in 1988, although developers were still permitted to build houses on land not in the SSSI. A report by the Conservation Committee of the British Herpetological Society to the House of Lords in 1988 said that "more than half of Canford, our largest single heath, is being built over with most of its reptiles doomed or already lost", and a 1988 New Scientist article claimed that the SSSI boundary had been drawn around planning permission on the heath granted by Bournemouth Council, and that houses could be built as little as 50 metres away from the SSSI, endangering rare reptiles. In 1991, then Secretary of State Michael Heseltine revoked planning consent for development on all of Canford Heath. In 2008, planning permission was given to develop homes on a former landfill site not in the SSSI, but plans were later abandoned. The former landfill site is now being restored to heathland.
In 2006, a heath fire started by arsonists caused around 100 people to be evacuated from their homes, and required around 170 firefighters to put out. Around 34–45 hectares of heathland burned.
In 2015, another fire spread over 2 ha of heathland, and required 70 firefighters; the damage caused could take 15–25 years for the heath to return to its former state.
On 23 April 2022, a large fire broke out on the heath, close to Mannings Heath roundabout. Twenty homes were evacuated, and an area of roughly 16.7 hectares was burnt. Dozens of animals were reported killed, and Dorset Wildlife Trust said that it would take 15 years for the heath to be restored. On 25 April, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service investigators said that the fire was started deliberately. On 14 May yet another fire broke out on the heath. On 22 May, a third fire broke out. The fire service confirmed that it was once again due to "human intervention".
Since 2019, Canford Heath ward has elected 3 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
Canford Heath was formerly part of two wards on Poole Borough Council; Canford Heath East and Canford Heath West.
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