Great demand for Boscombe ‘surf pods’ (From Bournemouth Echo)

Great demand for Boscombe ‘surf pods’

8:30am Wednesday 8th April 2009 in

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THE credit crunch and falling property prices are failing to dampen the enthusiasm for Boscombe seafront’s new super beach huts.

About 400 prospective buyers have registered an interest in snapping up the 58 surf pods currently being marketed for up to £90,000.

Reputed to be the world’s best beach huts, they were designed by award-winning Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway and are all fitted with mains electricity.

With French doors, balconies and bespoke seaside furniture, the pods bear little resemblance to the traditional huts which have graced the promenade for more than half a century.

Visit our surf reef section for more stories about the forthcoming attraction and to view our timeline of the history of its development

See the Related Link at the bottom of the story for more

A Bournemouth Tourism spokesman said: “Despite the current economic climate the interest in the surf pods has been phenomenal.

“The prices vary depending on whether they are single sized, double or on corner plots.

“It’s not just the sea view they offer; they’ve got so many other attractions on their doorstep like Boscombe Gardens and the soon to be completed surf reef.”

Boscombe West councillor Chris Wakefield told the Daily Echo: “Despite several setbacks, there is now huge hype surrounding the whole Overstrand project.”

He is confident that the long-awaited reef will be completed by September.

He added: “Workers are back on site; building an underwater project isn’t an easy process and I’d rather they got it right.”

Boscombe Traders’ Association chairman Steve Kent, who is now permanently based at the recently opened Boscombe resource centre in Roumelia Lane, said: “Traders have been understandably frustrated by all the delays; the reef saga has been going on for ten years.

“By the time it is up and running Boscombe will have a new look with special lighting to colour wash our most historic buildings and zoned shopping areas.

“It is a very exciting time; unlike other areas of Bournemouth our footfall figures are up on last year.”

• A new website detailing the many attractions of Boscombe will be unveiled later this month and on May 2 a loyalty card scheme will be launched by traders.