Site and context

The development site is located on Richmond Gardens, at the town centre of Bournemouth. Set adjacent to the main access road A338 Wessex Way at the junction with the A347, forming part of the entry gate into the town centre. Richmond Gardens is set adjacent to the business district on Richmond Hill offering main linkages to prime shopping area on Old Christchurch Road to the southeast of the site.

Proposals

The development at Richmond Gardens is being undertaken as a joint development to deliver a building of landmark quality that is highly attractive and that aspires to vitalise this under-used and under-developed inner city site. Two separate schemes were proposed and planning applications submitted for, a student-led PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) scheme comprising 625 student beds plus retail, cycle space and public realm improvements, and a built-to-rent (BTR) scheme comprising 211 apartments alongside commercial and retails space and landscape improvements.

Current status

The planning application for the PBSA scheme was submitted in 2019 and subsequently appealed. The Hearing took place in January 2020 and the appeal allowed and permission granted by the Inspectorate in February 2020. The planning application for the BTR scheme was also submitted in 2019 and resolution to grant planning secured by committee on 20 May 2021.