AN ONLINE consultation meeting has further revealed the ambitious plans for the centre of Boscombe, detailing what the £25 million plan entails.

The Boscombe Towns Fund - Town Investment Plan Consultation commenced on the evening of Wednesday, 9 September, conducted by Programme Manager Martha Covell.

The aims of the project are that Boscombe-Bournemouth (the regeneration area) will be diverse, connected, healthy and safe.

To achieve this, it is hoped that the plan will refresh the area by introducing a variety of creative sectors, thus broadening the job spectrum.

Martha Covell said: "Creating a cultural community is pretty critical for an area. We very much want people to be skilled with what's available and to widen opportunities in other sectors."

To enable this, funds will be provided to the Old School House to help them continue to offer shared workplaces and affordable training.

On top of this, there are plans to preserve and enhance the Royal Arcade, which was described as a "flagship project".

Martha said: "We are looking at purchasing the building, renovating it to a high standard then selling it to other partners."

Ideas for the Royal Arcade include a food court and businesses on the top floors.

The plans also include utilising the available space as much as possible, from new homes to retail buildings, to be achieved by replacing the Sovereign centre with “a contemporary mixed-use neighbourhood of streets and high-quality commercial units and homes”.

Martha added: "What we want to do with Quality Places and Homes (one of the five themes of the plan) is to utilise a lot of vacant space on the high street. As there is a lot of vacant retail space, we plan on introducing more community, cultural and creative uses into the spaces."

Prior to improving the spaces themselves, an upcoming project will see shopfronts improved, thanks to the designs of Art University Bournemouth students.

With regards to housing Martha explained how they hope to "rebalance the area."

She said: "There will be a better proportion and mixed use as we are trying to bring more families into the area."

For example, house plans for Gladstone Road include two-storey dwellings with flats above.

Work would also involve the redevelopment of Hawkwood Road for new family homes with Haviland Road “restored” and upgraded with more focus put on active travel options.

All new homes built will have access to either a balcony or small garden space.

Martha said: "There will be generously-sized balconies and back garden areas. We are not looking at cramped living space with no outdoor amenities."

Martha also detailed partnerships with Beryl Bikes and bus companies to reduce the volume of cars travelling into the centre, as well as improving the Boscombe Cliff Bowling Park in the future by making it available to a variety of sports including gymnastics and tai chi.

South Coast Medical Group will also be relocated during the regeneration to a "better facility".

The council’s plans would see 560 new homes, 6,700sqm of retail and leisure floor space and 4,800 sqm of commercial, community and health floor space created.