Hawkwood Road, Boscombe’s New Neighbourhood

Boscombe's transformation is well underway, but we're far from finished! Back in 2020, we teamed up with local residents and businesses to brainstorm how to best use the £23 million Towns Fund grant from the government. Together, we developed a detailed plan for a vibrant new neighbourhood on Hawkwood Road.

The new neighbourhood was given the green light by the council in April. This project (formerly known as the Towns Fund masterplan) is set to transform the area in plenty of exciting new ways. Keep reading for a peek at our plans for Boscombe's future!

The Hawkwood Road project has been given planning permission to build 68 new homes which will be built in three blocks. The residential properties will be broken down as: 

• 22 x 1 bed properties (32%)
• 16 x 2 bed properties (24%)
• 30  x 3 bed properties (44%)

Residential tenure mix (indicative)

• Block A - 28 units - affordable rent
• Block B - 18 units - open market sale
• Block C - 22 units - shared ownership

In addition to this, 8 of the lifetime homes will be suitable for residents with mobility needs, 6 of these will have a dedicated accessible parking space. All homes will have an outside space or balcony and the homes will be built and managed by BCP Council. 

The Bournemouth Towns Fund Management team has been working with community stakeholders in developing this project since 2020. The vision is to create a social space which belongs to the community and can be used for anything from indoor sports activities to private meetings. 

The community centre will be 795 sq metre of internal floorspace and laid over 2 floors. The centre will be overlooking the new walkway and boulevard with an attractive contemporary design together with an external seating area. Full details are to include: 

• Two Community Hall spaces, each comprising around 170 sq m with ancillary storage
• Two meeting rooms/ workshop/ studio spaces
• Separate office for the management comprising 18 sq. metres
• 21 sq. metre kitchen with servery
• Large reception area which can be used as a cafe area
• 29 sq. metre meeting Room for 12 people

The centre will be run by an existing experienced not for profit organisation. A number of potentially suitable organisations have already been identified and we will be inviting formal Expressions of Interests later in 2024, which will be advertised widely.

Included in the new neighbourhood project on Hawkswood Road, there is to be a brand new park, otherwise known as Hawkswood Gardens. The park will be positioned opposite the community centre and will include informal play areas, planting and a small pavilion. Further park information is as follow : 

• The garden will be partly managed by the community and partly by BCP Council 
• The park will be overlooked by the residential properties with a secure perimeter and lockable gates to be shut at night
• CCTV will be introduced 
• The pavilion has the potential to be used for community activities such as men's shed projects!

Improvements to the High Street are paramount in making Boscombe vibrant, quirky and most importantly safe for its visitors and residents. Part of this plan execution, we are going to be creating a new boulevard in Hawkswood Road. 

• The building at 625 Christchurch Road will be demolished to make way for a new boulevard to replace the tiny alleyways, to connect Hawkwood Road with the High Street.
• The boulevard will be landscaped with new street trees and overlooked by the new community centre.
• It will contain CCTV and a safer walking route from the High Street to the residential area to the south.
• The boulevard will include new bike storage facilities to accommodate cyclists. 

Our final objective is to create new spaces for business owners to showcase their business or products on the High Street. Details of this are to include: 

• The boulevard will be lined with 4 kiosks which will provide flexible accommodation for pop-up style businesses to complement the offer on the High Street.
• The kiosks are suitable for temporary space for artists studios and exhibitions, food and drink with outside seating and pop-up retail such as Christmas shops.

Engagement Hub:
30-32 Royal Arcade, Boscombe,
Bournemouth BH1 4BT

email [email protected]

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Bournemouth Towns Fund