Student homes and public car park proposal will be catalyst for regeneration

Posted: 1/03/2012 at 7:14pm

Early proposals to build much-needed student housing in Madeira Road for the Arts University College at Bournemouth and a public multi-storey car park have been showcased.

The multi-million pound initial proposals for Madeira Road West Car Park put forward by The Bournemouth Development Company, a partnership established to regenerate the town centre, are for three blocks of student housing, accommodating up to 378 students and a seven-storey car park, which would be operated by the Council.

Accommodation is sorely needed by The Arts University College at Bournemouth, which has halls of residence for just 100 of its 1,000 first year students.  Currently, many choose to live in converted family homes in suburbs such as Winton and Charminster and creating accommodation near the Lansdowne will enable students to be closer to a range of town centre shops, services and transport links.

The move, which has been welcomed by representatives of Bournemouth Chamber of Commerce, Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association and Dorset Police, will be a boost for local businesses in the Lansdowne and Old Christchurch Road.

Duncan Johnston, of The Bournemouth Development Company, said: “The universities and their students are an important part of our community; they contribute around £200 million a year to the local economy and their success is recognised internationally.  Enabling our universities to compete with other cities by providing the highest quality student accommodation will be vital for the town’s prosperity and we’re delighted to be
working with AUCB to enhance its service and to increase trade for town centre
businesses.”

Professor Stuart Bartholomew, Principal of the Arts University College at Bournemouth, added: “Having a greater town centre presence has been a long-held ambition.  With 10 applicants per place, we have some of the country’s most talented and hard-working students; many choose to stay and work here after graduation and, by ensuring students are an integral part of our community; we hope all will become ambassadors for the
town.”

The student development, which comprises a three blocks, rises in height from four storeys at the western, residential end to seven at the more commercial eastern end of the street.  Access to the homes will be via a well-lit path at the back of the building next to the Wessex Way with extensive planting of oak, birch and hedgerows to create a boulevard effect. The accommodation will be managed by a professional landlord with 24-hour
security.

The car park, which will be visible from the Wessex Way, will provide around 400 spaces and is hoped to attract visitors to the east of the town.  It will offset parking lost when construction of homes and cafe space gets underway at nearby Leyton Mount.

The final designs will be influenced by responses at a public exhibition which took place on Thursday March 1.  A planning application is expected soon.

For further details visit www.bournemouthdevelopmentcompany.com

Comments about the project

Nigel Hedges, President of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade said: “This development at Madeira Road will bring life into areas of the town centre that have almost been bypassed by the usual hustle and bustle. We welcome the contribution our educational industries bring to Bournemouth and the cultural and economic role they play. Increasing
accommodation in our town centre is great for Bournemouth Chamber member
companies – bringing an economic boost to business, retail and leisure.”

 

Andy Woodland, Chairman of Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association, said: “We
welcome the positive contribution The Bournemouth Development Company is making
towards regenerating Bournemouth Town Centre.  Creating a student hub to the north east of the town at Lansdowne will lift that area and generate revenue to help create new attractions and improve streets such as Westover Road and those areas of the town centre that have been under discussion over the past four or five years.”

 

Inspector Dean O’Connor of Dorset Police added: “With empty office blocks, shops and some tired frontages, the Lansdowne has somewhat lost its identity and has become a focus for antisocial behaviour and a place where vagrants gather.  Increasing the number of students living, studying, shopping and socialising in this area will be the start of a positive spiral of regeneration; Old Christchurch Road and Horseshoe Common will become busier and safer.  Recent student developments nearby have already made a positive contribution to the area.”

 

Professor Stuart Bartholomew, Principal of the Arts University College Bournemouth said:
“Having a greater town centre presence has been a long-held ambition for the Arts University. The creation of a drama and movement centre within Bournemouth Pavilion is a significant step and creating new town centre homes for our students will help us compete with other cities.  With 10 applicants per place, we have some of the country’s most talented and hard-working students; many choose to stay and work here after graduation and by ensuring students are an integral part of the community, we hope all will become ambassadors for the town.”