VISIONS to "preserve the heritage and plan for the future" of Boscombe are taking shape after months of work.

The Boscombe and Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan (BAP) aims to produce an approach to further the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the area.

A series of 12 new planning policies have been compiled after long discussions with the community.

Residents have their final opportunity to have their say on BAP at a meeting on Thursday.

Following consultation and adoption of the Plan, all new developments in Boscombe and Pokesdown would have to comply with the policies.

The Plan is run by a working group of volunteers who meet monthly, with the guidance and support of community planning consultants ECA Community Interest Company.

Martha Covell, director at ECA CIC, said: "The Plan is all about preserving the heritage and plan for the future of Boscombe and Pokesdown.

"We have spent about 18 months working with the local community in the area.

"The community wants to have some policies that encourage more family housing, prevent any further HMOs and we do not want any of the old buildings to be demolished anymore.

"We want them to be renovated and enhanced to become cherished sites in the neighbourhood."

Other aims of BAP policies include designating larger conservation areas, producing a new list of locally listed buildings and making the Royal Arcade the centre of the town again.

Sections of Boscombe and Pokesdown are within a conservation area, which has been designated ‘At Risk’ by Historic England.

Churchill Gardens is listed as in a very bad condition on the public body’s website, but adds it is an area which is improving.

BAP is a Neighbourhood Forum, as defined by the Localism Act (2011), which was formally adopted by Bournemouth Borough Council last year and is in existence for five years.

The Plan has received support from various sources, including Bournemouth 2026 Trust to fund technical work, consultation programs, web design and administrative assistance.

The forum's AGM takes place this Thursday (28.9) from 6.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall, Norwood Place.

The meeting is the last chance for locals to comment on the draft planning policies before they are published to the wider community in November.