The Trevor Osborne Property Group won the contract to develop the land next to the Pavilion Theatre back in 2007, with a scheme based around a casino.

However, they found themselves at the centre of controversy when the Liberal Democrat administration was soundly beaten at the 2007 local elections and the Conservatives swept to power. It emerged that the casino contract had been signed on the eve of polling day and a major political row followed.

Lawyers later concluded that nothing untoward had happened but the casino remained unpopular and the new Tory leaders asked Trevor Osborne to reconsider this element.

He proposed replacing the casino with a nine-screen cinema, which was agreed by councillors.

Along the way, the possibility of including a spa in the new development was also dropped, as were plans to incorporate a tourist information centre and a public piazza.

The development was delayed by the economic recession and by complex negotiations between the council and the Meyrick Estate.

And last year, it appeared that a rival scheme proposed for the Exeter Road bus station site could be built first.

But councillors have dropped their support for this scheme The Pavilion scheme, now christened Nautilus, because the design resembles a nautilus shell, is a clear front-runner.

Cafe culture

AS part of the Nautilus project, the Trevor Osborne Property Group will also contribute £200,000 and work with the council to begin the improvement and transformation of the Bath Road end of Westover Road.

Formerly known as the “Bond Street of Bournemouth,” Westover Road is identified in the Town Centre Master Vision as an area suitable for a boutique shopping destination.

There are also aims to develop a continental-style cafe culture in the area.

Leader of the council Cllr John Beesley welcomed the progress made by the Trevor Osborne Property Group.

“This is splendid news for Bournemouth and brings the council a step nearer to the realisation of the Bournemouth vision,” he said.