Boscombe riding on artificial surf reef to catch investment wave

Boscombe is finding itself increasingly in the media spotlight this year, as the result of Europe’s first artificial surf reef being constructed for the autumn surf season.

Riding on the publicity wave is Carol Butler, Boscombe Urban Centre Manager. Carol is part of the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Regeneration project working on initiatives to improve Boscombe. Actively supported and encouraged by Councillors Christopher Wakefield, Lisa Northover and Phil Stanley-Watts, empty shop fronts are being decorated with surf reef-themed shop banners. The banners highlight the opportunities available for retailers at a time when an up and coming area, with relatively low rent, is gearing up to become one of the prime surfing destinations in the UK.

Funded by Neighbourhood Management, the shop front vinyl banners are printed on 440gsm PVC, individually designed and customised to fit each shop window.

600 x 1200 mm banners printed on 740gsm opaque PVC, promote the varied shopping areas, are also attached to lampposts along the high street.

Boscombe, known as the poorer relation of thriving Bournemouth, is currently undergoing a £9 million regeneration programme. This includes the first artificial surf reef in the northern hemisphere, a new Pier end, re-landscaped seafront and Victorian gardens, cafes, restaurants, surf school and shop and modern beach huts interior designed by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway MBE of HemingwayDesign.

Carol Butler says: “Boscombe has previously been a deprived area and its high street traders have suffered from tough trading conditions. This year however, retailers are able to look forward to one of the top innovative sports and tourism facilities in Europe coming to the area, bringing with it a huge amount of investment. The area is now slowly becoming up and coming with a more affluent demographic moving in.”

She continues: “We wanted to use the reef-themed imagery to reduce the number of ‘whitened out’ shop windows and show retailers that there’s a real gem of an investment opportunity here.” Already two units are now under offer with a further five available.