A competition has been launched to design a cultural-led mixed-use development overlooking Bournemouth’s world renowned seafront.
The Bournemouth Development Company, a joint venture between Bournemouth Borough Council and Morgan Sindall Investments, is seeking expressions of interest for the design of a landmark development yards from the town’s multi-award-winning seven-mile-long beach.
The site, currently surface car parking at Bath Road North and South, is one of the most prominent and strategic locations in the heart of this dynamic, fast-growing coastal favourite. It sits next to the Lower Gardens and listed Pavilion Theatre with views across Bournemouth Bay to the Purbecks and Old Harry Rock.
The development is expected to offer a mix of cultural attractions including a new theatre, gallery and restaurants.
The successful project will seek to enhance the operations and visitor experience at the Pavilion, draw more people along Westover Road and open up further views across Bournemouth’s most prized natural assets, its beaches and gardens. There is also a potential opportunity to deliver a new boutique hotel.
Significant public realm investment is envisaged in the project, linking the new Cultural Quarter to the beaches, town centre and forthcoming Winter Gardens development via a new Grand Garden Walk.
The Bournemouth Development Company is the delivery partner for Bournemouth Council’s Town Centre Vision, an ambitious programme that is rejuvenating the town so it will be even better, more competitive and renowned as a place of high quality for residents, visitors, businesses and students.
Since its incorporation in 2011, Bournemouth Development Company has attracted millions of pounds’ worth of investment in the town – with much more to come. The partnership has so far delivered the Citrus Building at Horseshoe Common, award-winning student accommodation at Madeira Road for Arts University Bournemouth and the Madeira Road multi-storey car park overlooking Wessex Way. Planning permission is in place for more than 100 new homes at Berry Court in St Peter’s Road and a site development plan for a residential-led scheme on the Winter Gardens site was approved in October 2015. An exhibition of plans for a further residential development, at St Stephen’s Road, was held in November 2015.
Work by Bournemouth Development Company complements other key town centre projects. Two new Hilton hotels have opened at Terrace Mount in 2015 and building work is advanced on a cinema-led leisure scheme at Exeter Road. The development of Bath Road North and South will play a key role in continuing the town’s wider rejuvenation and leave a lasting legacy for the future.
While Bournemouth is famous the world over for leisure, tourism, hospitality and festivals, its number one economic mainstay is in fact financial services. The financial sector contributes more than £1 billion to the local economy each year. Alongside its traditional economic strengths, the town is also witnessing a fast-growing market in tech and creative industries fuelled in part by its two successful universities.
