Developer to build on church site near BIC (From Bournemouth Echo)

Developer to build on church site near BIC

1:00pm Friday 2nd March 2012 in News By Stephen Bailey

A DEVELOPER has won permission to build a seven-storey building opposite Bournemouth’s BIC.

Philip Oram’s multi-million pound ‘Dakota Building’ will have 45 one-bedroom flats and 45 holiday lets.

The empty Punshon Memorial Church on Exeter Road will be demolished to make room.

Work is due to start before the end of the year and should be finished by the end of 2013.

Mr Oram told the Echo: “The building will be a success purely just because of its location.

“There will be views over the top of the BIC over the bay.”

The Punshon Church was built in 1958. It is not listed and does not fall into a conservation area.

The council is trying to bring new life into the town centre through its ‘Town Centre Master Vision’.

Head of tourism Mark Smith said: “This mix of residential and tourist use is positive and will bring increased vibrancy to the area.”

The application was dealt with under delegated powers, rather than at the planning board, because so few objections were received.

The Dakota will be flanked by the listed Royal Exeter Hotel and Punshon Memorial Hall.

Planning officers said the buildings staggered, set back design would not overshadow them.

There will also be 6,500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

Mr Oram’s previous application for a 110-bed hotel was refused.

The flats will be let by Goadsby. Director of residential property, Rex Craven, told the Echo: “They will very much be in demand.

“They will sell well as buy-to-lets, as second homes and to first time buyers.”

James Scollard, head of Bournemouth-based Cliftons, said: “This is probably one of the most important sites in Bournemouth, directly opposite the BIC and on a main artery road.

“There is no doubt any apartments in this location would be in demand.”

Mr Oram’s company has made a Section 106 agreement to pay the council £192,000 for recreation and highways facilities, heathland mitigation and CCTV.

His other recent developments include the nearby Park Central Hotel and Hermitage Hotel. He said: “We recently converted the former 20/20 nightclub and all 12 flats sold in two days.”