MAJOR plans which could help in Bournemouth town centre’s regeneration have cleared an important hurdle.
A planning application to convert the empty former House of Fraser building in Old Christchurch Road into student flats has been given the green light by BCP Council.
It now means developer Carve Developments is one step closer to converting the run-down building into 10 commercial units and 129 student accommodation bedrooms.
The project, which also includes Belfast House and Gervis Hall in Gervis Place, will benefit the town centre’s economy, BCP Council has said.
The authority’s case officer said: “The works will also facilitate the long-term functional use of these historic building and contribute to the town’s vitality and viability, striking a reasonable balance in terms of preserving their historic value and significance against being unoccupied and eventual decline.”
It added: “The building is currently vacant and falling into disrepair with water ingress and other general deterioration since it became vacant.
“It is considered that it would be difficult to re-let the premises as it is with a large retail floor space on all floors.
“Therefore, securing a generally sympathetic replacement use of the building is considered positive and will enable the buildings’ security and future conservation.”
Initially pitched with a nightclub accessed from Gervis Place, developers have now swapped it with a sports bar.
It is said the sports bar is “considered betterment in terms of noise impact” to the flats and retail units.
Inside the student flats, the developers will have shared facilities, including private and group study spaces, cinema rooms, a gym, common room and music room.
House of Fraser was the town’s last big department store when it closed in March 2022, having lost Beales in 2020 and Debenhams in 2021.
Having been founded in 1871 as Bright’s of Bournemouth, it was the oldest of Bournemouth’s department stores selling needlework and wool in the Arcade.
The business was expanded into neighbouring shops and then an adjacent building.
It was bought by JJ Allen and then House of Fraser, which branded it as Dingles, before it took the House of Fraser name in 2007.
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