Boscombe Regeneration

Boscombe West has high long standing levels of deprivation. The latest census showed that things were getting worse and the gap between the most deprived part of Bournemouth and its surrounding areas was widening, with the heart of the ward - Boscombe Central – shown as one of the most deprived areas in the South West. The Dorset LEP Growing Places Fund allocated £1.5 million to Bournemouth Borough Council to facilitate the establishment of a Community Land Trust and to develop 11 affordable homes for local people (one of which was for people with restricted mobility) on a shared ownership basis.

This along with recent initiatives is starting to make a difference and regeneration is beginning to make an impact, although the issues are complex and fundamental improvements will take a considerable period of time. The development of 11 affordable, low energy family homes is located at Gladstone Mews and was completed and handed over in August 2014. The Gladstone Mews development includes the added value of the inclusion of latest fire suppression systems, allotments and a community orchard.

By the end of 2014, ten of the properties, including the home for mobility impaired, were under offer. The development was completed below budget, at a cost of £1,194,395, allowing £305,605 of Growing Places Fund money to be released for reinvestment in further projects. In addition to this, the project enabled European money to be secured for bringing forward the development of a refurbished Creative Industries Hub at Gladstone Mews, providing further enterprise support for the area.