Holdenhurst Road reopens after 12 weeks of closure

BCP Council has commissioned work which will include new street furniture, planting, paving, artworks and new event space.

Following the completion of an initial delivery phase, Holdenhurst Road has reopened.

Works commenced in March 2021 and improvements will continue to take shape over the coming months without the need for Holdenhurst Road to be closed to vehicles.

Future improvements will see an art installation adjacent to the Old Fire Station.

To deliver this initial phase, £4.8 million in government funding was secured by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Local Growth Fund and a further £2.9 million of council match funding provided from local contributions.

Councillor Philip Broadhead, BCP Council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration and economy said: “I am delighted to see these improvements take shape and to announce that we are ready to reopen Holdenhurst Road.

“This will go a long way towards supporting local businesses now government Covid-19 restrictions have lifted.

“We have big ambitions for Lansdowne, and this is just the first stage of our transformational vision, which will encourage economic growth and attract future investment in the area over the long term.’’

Brian Hammersley, Balfour Beatty Living Places contract director, said: “Alongside our supply chain partners, R&W Civil Engineering, we have worked safely and efficiently to open this essential road as quickly as possible in a bid to minimise disruption for the travelling public and local businesses in the Lansdowne area.

“Through the SCAPE framework, we have worked closely with our supply chain to leave a lasting positive impact on the local community; carrying out a beach clean-up on Bournemouth beach, engaging with a social enterprise to recycle wood pallets from the site, whilst also working with Community Clean and Chapter 8 to contribute to the refurbishment of Station Roundabout.”