100-home boost for Bournemouth’s Town Centre Vision

Posted: 19/08/2016 at 4:38pm

Proposals to build nearly 100 new homes across two strategic town centre sites have been submitted to Bournemouth Council for approval.

Separate planning applications detail the potential to rejuvenate land at Durley Road and St Stephen’s Road with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats aimed at first-time buyers, young professionals, downsizers and families.

The applications have been put forward by the Bournemouth Development Company, an award-winning regeneration partnership helping to deliver Bournemouth Council’s Town Centre Vision.

Both sites, currently surface car parks, have been identified for several years as suitable for residential use in the Council’s Area Action Plan.

The £13 million St Stephen’s Road scheme contains 49 apartments whilst the similarly valued Durley Road development numbers 44 apartments. Both will offer residents’ parking.

Councillor John Beesley, Leader of Bournemouth Council, said: “Durley Road is a strategic gateway on the western edge of the town centre whilst St Stephen’s Road is a key location overlooking St Stephen’s Church and bordering the Wessex Way to the north.

“By creating a mixture of high-quality new homes for sale at both these locations, we can continue to support our long-term Town Centre Vision.

“It is all about developing and delivering attractive projects that boost trade, increase vibrancy and generate income for further investment – in other words, catalysts for future regeneration.”

Public exhibitions of plans were held in November 2015 for St Stephen’s Road and in April 2016 for Durley Road.

Duncan Johnston, Development Director, Bournemouth Development Company, said: “Community involvement, public feedback and the input of many stakeholders has all helped to evolve our initial ideas, giving us confidence in the strength of both schemes. We’re proposing architecturally impressive, well-designed contemporary apartments that will attract people and families keen to live in the town centre.”

Under the proposals, the Bournemouth Development Company will work with the Council to help offset the loss of public parking spaces and agree how alternative parking will be provided in line with planning policy.

Bournemouth Council will consider the two planning applications separately during the autumn. Pending approval, the next stages will see more detailed design work carried out.

Potential starts on site could be made during 2017 with a construction programme of around 18 months for both schemes.

The Bournemouth Development Company has already delivered three award-winning schemes: the 64-apartment Citrus Building at Horseshoe Common; student accommodation at Madeira Road for Arts University Bournemouth; and the Madeira Road multi-storey public car park overlooking Wessex Way.

This summer, work has also started on a £27 million development at Berry Court in St Peter’s Road which will create 113 apartments for rent.