THE demolition of three vacant buildings in Exeter Road is soon to begin as the Winter Gardens development gets underway.

The former office block at Keystone House and Valentino Restaurant are set to be demolished in early November and this stage of the works should be complete by January, Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) has confirmed.

Bournemouth Development Company (the joint venture partnership between BCP Council and Muse Developments) is demolishing the site to make way for the new Winter Gardens scheme.

As part of the building works the private permit-holders-only car park adjacent to Keystone House will be closed for 16 weeks.

Planning permission has already been granted for the £150 million Winter Gardens development which will see more than 350 flats, 600 parking spaces and new leisure and retail space.

As previously reported, it is proposed that the flats would be privately rented through its company Seascape. It is forecast these would bring in more than £1.7 million a year.

A spokesperson for Bournemouth Development Company, said: “Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) and BCP Council will shortly be starting the demolition of three vacant buildings on Exeter Road, Bournemouth, including the former office block at Keystone House and Valentino Restaurant. This is being delivered as part of the planning consent BDC received in 2019 and BDC and the Council continue to work together to bring forward development on the site once the demolition works have concluded.

“Hoardings have been erected as the first step towards demolition, which is planned for early November and is anticipated to complete in January 2022. As part of these works there will be a necessary, temporary closure of the private, permit-holders-only surface car park adjacent to Keystone House for 16 weeks while demolition is undertaken. Demolition contractor, VINCI Construction UK, is working to minimise the impact on local residents and businesses during this time.

“Bournemouth Development Company secured planning for the Winter Gardens scheme in 2019 and were progressing with discussions to appoint a contractor to deliver it when the pandemic hit.

“Currently we are reviewing some elements of the scheme to make sure it meets the needs of the community and will provide a further update in due course.”