West Central cinema complex WILL start this spring, says developer

8:51am Monday 7th January 2013 in News

West Central cinema complex WILL start this spring, says council West Central cinema complex WILL start this spring, says council

WORK on building a new £50million cinema and restaurant complex in the heart of Bournemouth will start in a few months, developers have promised.

The developers of West Central say they are preparing to appoint contractors ready for work to start on the Exeter Road site in late spring.

Licet Developments hoped to start work last year, when they had finalised their funding and had major operators signed up to the scheme.

However, building plans were delayed when Bournemouth council decided it wanted to see a bus station built on the land instead and withdrew an offer to sell a small strip of council-owned land.

The council believed Licet would be unable to build its leisure scheme without the council land but Licet simply amended the design and successfully applied for planning permission.

Chris Dymond, Licet’s director, said: “Major developments such as this do take time as it’s really important that we get it just right to create the longed-for all weather leisure facility that will draw locals and visitors to spend time and money in the very heart of Bournemouth.

“So we’re delighted that at last the formal paperwork is in place and we’re now working closely with all partners to bring the plans to life.”

Agreements are currently being concluded with leading restaurants including names that will be new to Bournemouth, as well as a major multiplex cinema operator. Names are due to be announced soon as agreements are finalised.

It’s anticipated West Central will take around 18 months to build and will create 300 new jobs.

Nigel Hedges, president of the Chamber of Trade, said: “There are 16 prime sites waiting for redevelopment in the town centre, which will help strengthen our offer to residents and visitors.

“We now need to see a crane in the air because that will send out a signal that Bournemouth is open for business and acting on its vision.”

Comments(33)

jobsworthwatch says...
9:15am Mon 7 Jan 13

I suspect most residents would rather see a bus station on this site in order to get buses out of the town centre.
Its taken over 30 years to get the go ahead to redevelop this site and we are going to get something we don't want! This development could go on any of the other sites available in the town centre but this site needs to be a bus station.

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Old Colonial says...
9:16am Mon 7 Jan 13

“We now need to see a crane in the air because that will send out a signal that Bournemouth is open for business and acting on its vision.” No...it sends out a signal that Bournemouth is likely to be one large building site for the next few years.

(Cynical comment 2013 No.1)

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B'mth 56 says...
9:42am Mon 7 Jan 13

The developers could save themselves a lot of money by just re-siting the imax in a new position as it looks like an eyesore too! Who wants to sit in the gardens near the balloon and look at the back of this monstrosity? IS THIS IMAX 2?

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pete woodley says...
9:50am Mon 7 Jan 13

jobsworthwatch wrote:
I suspect most residents would rather see a bus station on this site in order to get buses out of the town centre.
Its taken over 30 years to get the go ahead to redevelop this site and we are going to get something we don't want! This development could go on any of the other sites available in the town centre but this site needs to be a bus station.
YES,YES,YES.

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pete woodley says...
9:51am Mon 7 Jan 13

jobsworthwatch wrote:
I suspect most residents would rather see a bus station on this site in order to get buses out of the town centre.
Its taken over 30 years to get the go ahead to redevelop this site and we are going to get something we don't want! This development could go on any of the other sites available in the town centre but this site needs to be a bus station.
YES,YES,YES.

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bourne free says...
10:03am Mon 7 Jan 13

pete woodley wrote:
jobsworthwatch wrote:
I suspect most residents would rather see a bus station on this site in order to get buses out of the town centre.
Its taken over 30 years to get the go ahead to redevelop this site and we are going to get something we don't want! This development could go on any of the other sites available in the town centre but this site needs to be a bus station.
YES,YES,YES.
NO NO NO !
build something for recreation / the ink rink is popular and you've missed the boat on the skate -jump park that is packed out in poole . Give the kids and holiday makers more to do ?

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bourne free says...
10:05am Mon 7 Jan 13

pete woodley wrote:
jobsworthwatch wrote:
I suspect most residents would rather see a bus station on this site in order to get buses out of the town centre.
Its taken over 30 years to get the go ahead to redevelop this site and we are going to get something we don't want! This development could go on any of the other sites available in the town centre but this site needs to be a bus station.
YES,YES,YES.
NO NO NO !
build something for recreation / the ice rink is popular and you've missed the boat on the skate -jump park that is packed out in poole . Give the kids and holiday makers more to do ?

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Kiki1973 says...
10:30am Mon 7 Jan 13

what a bunch of naysayers and pessimists.... it's about time Bournemouth had some revamped areas in town centre. This town needs to come into the 21st century. I, for one, welcome this.

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bmthtony says...
10:57am Mon 7 Jan 13

At last a decent new state of the art cinema complex in the centre of town, I for one can't wait for this to open. For too many years we've had to put up with the old crumbling Odeon and ABC cinemas, great in their time but way past their best.

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bourne free says...
10:57am Mon 7 Jan 13

Kiki1973 wrote:
what a bunch of naysayers and pessimists.... it's about time Bournemouth had some revamped areas in town centre. This town needs to come into the 21st century. I, for one, welcome this.
Yes it needs to look forward but not a cinema ,it has 2 that don't pull the crowds and how many empty -failing shops do you need ?
Think of the young and the holiday makers , do something to get there wallets and purses open ,we are a holiday area .

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vh11 says...
11:00am Mon 7 Jan 13

It does look rather ugly from the picture. I'm sure the local restaurant owners already paying high rental rates will be fuming. The new development in Dorchester is not unlike this, and that looks ugly and out of place to my mind too.

All in all as a local resident, whilst I recognise change can be healthy, this doesn't appear the best use for this space, as there's plenty of restaurants and cinemas already in town? This just seems an excuse to bring in larger chains and their often bland, expensive food. And I'm sure there's 'loads' of car parking spaces being made available for when it opens too?

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jeebuscripes says...
11:15am Mon 7 Jan 13

Another cinema? We've already got at least 3 multi-screens in the conurbation.

More shops? How many are sitting empty in Bournemouth and Poole?

Leading restaurants? They mean chains, mass producing the same garbage.

This really just sounds like a bit of Tower Park rammed into the car park in the middle of Bournemouth.

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cajohnson says...
11:25am Mon 7 Jan 13

Dreadful! What an ugly building! New bus station for me, please.

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muscliffman says...
12:01pm Mon 7 Jan 13

To revitalise Bournemouth Town Centre we needed a decent bus-station (amongst many things) not this rather familiar looking 'Imax 2' with outbuildings.

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Molecatcher says...
12:51pm Mon 7 Jan 13

The definition of madness: Doing the same thing twice and expecting a different result.

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BmthNewshound says...
12:58pm Mon 7 Jan 13

So whats happening about the Nautilus development ? The Council extended the planning permission to allow Trevor Osborne to secure the finance. This was mean't to be in place by the end of last year but its all gone very quiet.
.
Can the Echo give us an update on this project too ?

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bbird says...
12:59pm Mon 7 Jan 13

A concrete bunker!

"Leading" restaurants, a euphemism for fast food rubbish? In my book leading restaurants/cafes are independents, who are unlikely to pay extortionate rents.

Hopefully not targeted uniquely at youngsters, as did I read over 50s are now the main cinema market?

It's time for Bournemouth to wake up. Not all holidaymakers wants to go abroad, and locals are more discerning. We need to broaden our appeal and offer some exciting shops cafes & restaurants in a designated area of the town! And more outdoor terraces please

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fedupwithjobsworths says...
1:08pm Mon 7 Jan 13

jeebuscripes wrote:
Another cinema? We've already got at least 3 multi-screens in the conurbation. More shops? How many are sitting empty in Bournemouth and Poole? Leading restaurants? They mean chains, mass producing the same garbage. This really just sounds like a bit of Tower Park rammed into the car park in the middle of Bournemouth.
Except you can park free at Tower Park - no competion

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fedupwithjobsworths says...
1:10pm Mon 7 Jan 13

pete woodley wrote:
jobsworthwatch wrote: I suspect most residents would rather see a bus station on this site in order to get buses out of the town centre. Its taken over 30 years to get the go ahead to redevelop this site and we are going to get something we don't want! This development could go on any of the other sites available in the town centre but this site needs to be a bus station.
YES,YES,YES.
Careful Jobsworthwatch I think you've made him ****!

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afcb77 says...
1:45pm Mon 7 Jan 13

pete woodley wrote:
jobsworthwatch wrote:
I suspect most residents would rather see a bus station on this site in order to get buses out of the town centre.
Its taken over 30 years to get the go ahead to redevelop this site and we are going to get something we don't want! This development could go on any of the other sites available in the town centre but this site needs to be a bus station.
YES,YES,YES.
Oh Woodley you little mucky pup, you will insist on posting everything twice. Do you do anything twice in such quick succession?

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Bob49 says...
3:01pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Didn't we get these endless start dates with ASR, who were forever promising to return and tweak/restore/rejuve
nate the wretched reef.

Might it not be a better idea for the council to simply allow the developer to cram in as many appartments as possible (as is the intent) and do away with this charade about restaurants, cinemas, climbing walls, surf machines etc ?

They have pretty much indicated that's what's going to happen on the Imax/Bath road site so lets be done with it and let them get on with it.

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BOURNE RED says...
3:39pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Bournemouth needs a new cinema complex as long as the building looks good all the way round this will be good for the town.. Reference the old winter gardens site how about a permanent circus for the family's this can be used all year round, and don't miss a trick make a impressive building.. Another idea to improve the pier how about on the end of it a London eye equivalent as it will be permanent and have impressive views both ways...so many ideas out there just to many old fogies in the council.

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Baywolf says...
3:48pm Mon 7 Jan 13

It's all well and good building these eyesores to attract visitors but really how on earth does the council see the chaos in the square with busses log jammed pedestrians taking life and limb crossing between them and make no plans to build a bus terminal for the 21st. Century..and they say the reef is working.

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Bob49 says...
3:50pm Mon 7 Jan 13

oh dear, you don't seem to have quite grasped what is going on around the pier.

The area is being developed for very upmarket flats hence the idea of putting up some idiocy (high wire zip nonsense) that can easily be dismantled when needed, rather than any expensive and permanent structure.

Bournemouth council has too mnay snouts in the trough. They know as most others do that the days of mass tourism/holidaymaker
s etc as seen previously, are long gone. The money to be made is through residential development.

They will therefore behave accordingly - despite whatever crackpot ideas are put up by those stuck in some 'glorious heyday' timewarp.

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allornothing says...
4:31pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Hopefully a Nando's :D definitely what Bournemouth needs!

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harryonthecoast says...
4:47pm Mon 7 Jan 13

What about doing something about the Cliff End Hotel at Eastcliffe.Absolute disgrace to the area.Needs immediate demolition,but knowing Bournemouth it will remain an eyesore for a long time yet.Also the former David Lloyd site on Knyverton/Knowle Road.Site cleared many years ago for sheltered housing,now resembles a bombed site,full of rubbish,graffiti.Com
e on Bournemouth council get your finger out and sort these two sites out asap

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harryonthecoast says...
4:47pm Mon 7 Jan 13

What about doing something about the Cliff End Hotel at Eastcliffe.Absolute disgrace to the area.Needs immediate demolition,but knowing Bournemouth it will remain an eyesore for a long time yet.Also the former David Lloyd site on Knyverton/Knowle Road.Site cleared many years ago for sheltered housing,now resembles a bombed site,full of rubbish,graffiti.Com
e on Bournemouth council get your finger out and sort these two sites out asap

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KLH says...
9:33pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Two buses had a recent meeting with each other in the town centre only recently, that has been waiting to happen for a long time, now it has, and still the bus station isn't happening.

Next time someone might be killed in that gridlock of buses, because it was preferable to have this development instead.

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s-pb2 says...
11:23pm Mon 7 Jan 13

fedupwithjobsworths wrote:
jeebuscripes wrote:
Another cinema? We've already got at least 3 multi-screens in the conurbation. More shops? How many are sitting empty in Bournemouth and Poole? Leading restaurants? They mean chains, mass producing the same garbage. This really just sounds like a bit of Tower Park rammed into the car park in the middle of Bournemouth.
Except you can park free at Tower Park - no competion
I agree. Ill keep going to Tower Park, free parking, plenty of restaurants, and then you can do your shopping at Tesco's after.

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guisselle says...
1:11am Tue 8 Jan 13

Tower Park has got a lot to offer
with Splash Down as well!

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jobsworthwatch says...
8:26am Tue 8 Jan 13

harryonthecoast wrote:
What about doing something about the Cliff End Hotel at Eastcliffe.Absolute disgrace to the area.Needs immediate demolition,but knowing Bournemouth it will remain an eyesore for a long time yet.Also the former David Lloyd site on Knyverton/Knowle Road.Site cleared many years ago for sheltered housing,now resembles a bombed site,full of rubbish,graffiti.Com

e on Bournemouth council get your finger out and sort these two sites out asap
Would make a good Wetherspoons!

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Markmag says...
11:47am Tue 8 Jan 13

Great news! Not the absolute best location for a cinema (that's the Winter Gardens site) but a lot better than Bath Hill. Hopefully Nautilus is dead in the water.

The only people who want a bus station don't get on buses.
Any bus station would be a run down white elephant - same as at the Travel Interchange. Both Yellow Buses and More from Wilts and Dorset have almost no services that terminate in the Square now - they run through. They don't want a bus station, and would avoid their main routes from stopping there as it would delay the journey.

Bus stations across the country (including Salisbury) are closing as the bus companies don't want or need them, they end up run down, are an expensive use of land and are dangerous as they often require buses reversing. I'm not saying Gervis Place is right how it is, but a bus station is not the answer.

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Bob49 says...
1:10pm Tue 8 Jan 13

"I bet we get an Ice Rink at Kings Park before we get flats taking up the Imax site!”



oh dear, you haven't really thought that through have you ?

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