Fresh proposals to redevelop the Winter Gardens car park will be considered by Bournemouth Cabinet today (Wednesday 14 October).
The scheme, put forward by the Bournemouth Development Company, a 50/50 partnership between Bournemouth Council and Morgan Sindall Investments, features up to 400 high-quality flats involving one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses.
The development plan for the 1.86 hectare site also includes a 400-space public car park, restaurants, shops and public realm improvements.
Councillor John Beesley, Leader of Bournemouth Council, said: “As a key town centre location there is need for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Winter Gardens site. By providing high-quality accommodation we can offer a more attractive choice to owner occupiers and first-time buyers to encourage more people to live in the town centre. This will ultimately boost the local economy, provide new jobs and attract further investment to Bournemouth.”
If first-stage approval is secured, a detailed planning application will be submitted during 2016 with a possible start on site the following year.
The current surface car park dates from 2006 when the Winter Gardens venue was demolished having been closed four years earlier.
As delivery partner for the long-term Town Centre Vision, the Bournemouth Development Company is working to redevelop council-owned land assets in the town.
Development Director Duncan Johnston said: “The Winter Gardens car park is a strategic site that has been waiting many years for redevelopment. We’re really excited to be bringing these proposals forward. Our scheme has the potential to lift the quality of the urban environment, provide quality homes for people, support the town centre economy and bring more life to the area.”
In the last two years, the partnership has delivered the £12.5m residential-led Citrus Building at Horseshoe Common, the award-winning £23m student accommodation at Madeira Road for Arts University Bournemouth and the £4m Madeira Road multi-storey public car park overlooking Wessex Way.
