Archive questions and answers
A few of your questions answered...
What's been agreed so far?
How will the scheme benefit Boscombe?
Is housing on this part of the seafront acceptable?
Could the leisure developments happen without the housing?
Why have the housing and leisure planning applications been submitted together?
Do local people support this scheme?
Is there going to be a surf reef?
Can local roads cope with any increase in traffic?
Are there any sensitive environmental areas to be considered?
Will local people benefit as well as tourists?
What will happen to the Overstrand building?
Couldn’t we keep the Pier at its current length?
What is stopping the development of a marina?
We know that a marina would be expensive, but isn't there some Government or European funding you could get?
Can you guarantee that the development won't be too big and spoil the natural beauty of our seafront?
It looks as though the housing development looks different to the original design?
What's been agreed so far?
That the area needs major investment, that a housing development adjacent to the seafront is the best way to raise the funds needed (Barratt Homes given planning permission for 169 flats), and that this leisure scheme is the only way forward - with something for local people and visitors that will give Boscombe its own unique feel.
How will the scheme benefit Boscombe?
This scheme is designed to breathe more life into Boscombe’s already thriving community – financially, visually, environmentally and socially. We are confident that the new and more attractive facilities will benefit the area in all these ways. Other recent developments along the seafront, such as at Alum Chine, have shown that this extra business is often generated outside of the traditional peak periods – and that’s good news for the area all year round.
Is housing on this part of the seafront acceptable?
The District Wide Local Plan, which has been the subject of extensive local consultation, and approved by the government in 2002, has identified the under-used car park area east of the Pier for housing development. The housing will help create a village feel to Boscombe Seafront, and give extra year-round custom to the new attractions by and on the Pier as well as to existing businesses.
Could the leisure developments happen without the housing?
No. The leisure scheme is dependent on funding from the housing scheme, but the agreement with the housing developer means advance payments to the Council will allow the leisure scheme to be developed in parallel with the housing.
Do local people support this scheme?
We've conducted a comprehensive consultation into the leisure plans. We've consulted people from across Bournemouth, living in the Boscombe area, young people, parents and businesses. Support for the scheme was widespread and we are confident that it will encourage more local people to use Boscombe Seafront.
Is there going to be a surf reef?
Yes. Whilst a surf reef wouldn't need planning permission anyhow, because it is underwater, it does require permission from a whole host of other organisations, such as Crown Estates.
Can local roads cope with any increase in traffic?
The traffic assessment has taken account of the current trends and has made traffic estimates based on the new scheme to show the overall transport effect. We also plan extra car parking spaces and electronic parking signs in the area.
Are there any sensitive environmental areas to be considered?
Yes. There is an area of special nature conservation interest (an SNCI). The detailed study of the environmental impact that the development would have on this and on the whole of the area, will tell us whether there would be good, bad or neutral effects.
Will local people benefit as well as tourists?
This is a scheme for everyone, which will build on Boscombe's unique character. The area will be greatly improved in terms of how it looks and 85% of local adults surveyed said that they'd visit the area more often if this scheme goes ahead.
What will happen to the Overstrand building?
It will be refurbished with super chalets, surf themed shops and restaurants as well as shower and changing facilities.
Couldn’t we keep the Pier at its current length?
The end of Boscombe Pier is structurally unstable and needs to be demolished for safety reasons. The cost of keeping it at its current length would make it impossible to deliver the range of improvements included in the current leisure proposals.
What is stopping the development of a marina?
Firstly, there is a very high engineering cost of doing this in an attractive way - this would have to be paid for, as with the rest of the Boscombe seafront development, from the income from the housing. We would need up to 5-times the level of housing on the site to fund this. Secondly, An Act of Parliament is needed in order to create a marina that affects the coastline. It's unlikely that this would be approved – the most recent application (from Bridlington in East Yorkshire) was turned down, and this area had a much stronger case as there are no other marina facilities nearby. Thirdly, a marina would probably restrict access to the beach area for the majority of people as boat owners would require exclusive access - this would mean at least 200m of Boscombe beach effectively being turned into a private beach and becoming a no-go area for the general public. In addition, new marinas tend to need significant land access for getting the boats into the water, which could change the whole pedestrian feel of the seafront and would need significant alterations to the road access.
We know that a marina would be expensive, but isn't there some Government or European funding you could get?
No there isn't. There seem to be some suggestions that this is the case, but it simply is not. Bournemouth is not eligible for European funding for this, and there is no prospect of that changing as the indications for the future are that the number of areas that are eligible will probably reduce.
Can you guarantee that the development won't be too big and spoil the natural beauty of our seafront?
We will be taking care that agreed planning policy is followed, including limits on the size of the housing development. Local people were able to comment, on planning grounds, by writing in and making a deputation to the Planning Board.
It looks as though the housing development looks different to the original design?
That’s because we have negotiated with Barratts a smaller development, 169 flats rather than 176.
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