New look for £200m scheme in Glen Fern Road, Bournemouth

The £200million proposal for the area between Glen Fern Road and Fir Vale Road would see a building up to 24-storeys in height.

Poole-based Fortitudo’s plans, which were submitted back in January, include a nightclub, boutique cinema, indoor bowling, restaurants and sky bar.

The scheme would see existing buildings demolished, with the delivery of hundreds of flats, a large hotel through a 14 to 24 storey building and a replacement multi-storey car park.

The site is currently occupied by South Western House, a car park, and commercial buildings which are home to the likes of Cameo, Norwegian Wood Cafe, a garage and Oasis Fun.

After initially submitting a raft of documents, designs and details on the plans, Fortitudo has made amendments to the external designs of the proposed building.

CGI of the new exterior design for the redevelopment of the site between Glen Fern Road and Fir Vale Road in Bournemouth. View from Horseshoe Common. Picture: Fortitudo (Image: Fortitudo)

Richard Carr, Fortitudo chief executive, said: “The planners told us they wanted a more contemporary design so we obliged.”

He added: “We are thrilled at the interest in this development and will be announcing occupants shortly.”

Within months of submitting the application, Mr Carr said the scheme had attracted ‘huge’ occupier interest, which had left him “quietly amazed”.

The scheme has been named Boho Grand, with CGIs of the new design shared for the first time.

Mr Carr previously said the aim was to obtain planning permission before the end of the year. If this was achieved, the huge redevelopment project could be completed by 2027.

CGI of the new exterior design for the redevelopment of the site between Glen Fern Road and Fir Vale Road in Bournemouth. View from St Peter's Road. Picture: Fortitudo (Image: Daily Echo)

The application is currently being assessed by council planning officers.

Bournemouth Civic Society gave a detailed response to the initial designs for the scheme.

It said it felt that the building currently on the site from the 1970s was “probably the worst designed modern complex that was ever constructed in central Bournemouth”, adding that it deserved to be replaced as soon as possible.

The society expressed a series of concerns at the time of its comments, concluding that further discussions between the applicant and council planners would be needed before a decision could be made.