This artist’s impression gives a flavour of an arts and culture hub, community orchard and housing scheme for first time buyers in Boscombe.
The Gladstone Mews development, part of the Backing Boscombe Campaign, aims to bring a derelict site back to life for the benefit of the community and gives locals their first step onto the housing ladder.
A planning application for the site, which sits between Haviland Road and Gladstone Road in the centre of Boscombe, has been submitted by the Bournemouth 2026 partnership. It proposes 11 family homes and the restoration of part of the former school building into an arts and culture hub. A community orchard has also been proposed.
Bob Boulton, Chairman of Bournemouth 2026, said: “This proposal will ensure a long-term future for the former school building fronting onto Gladstone Road and every care is being taken to ensure its conversion is sympathetic to its late Victorian architecture. We hope this will become a vibrant place for the community to enjoy arts and culture.
“A recent report into Boscombe revealed a host of problems. It’s vital that we increase pride in the area, enabling people to own their own homes and providing community spaces will encourage them to lay long-term roots here and that will be of great social benefit to the area.”
The plans for Gladstone Mews include one detached 3-bedroom house, nine 2-bedroom semi-detached and terraced houses, and one 2-bedroom bungalow, which will be fully accessible for wheelchair use. Each will have a private garden and off-road parking. There’ll also be a communal allotment for residents to enjoy. Some non-Listed buildings would be removed and the main access would be via Gladstone Road.
The planning application is the first to be progressed by an embryonic Community Land Trust set up by Bournemouth 2026. Residents who buy from the Trust would own their own homes, while the Trust would keep ownership of the land. Working in this way ensures the homes remain affordable when first purchased and when they’re subsequently sold on.
Notes -
The concept of a Community Land Trust first came from church leaders on a run-down New York estate. The church bought and spruced up properties, selling them on to local people at affordable prices. The project had a profound impace - lifting the area, reducing transience and encouraging residents to lay down more permanent roots.
Bournemouth 2026 has more than 900 members and unites 250 local voluntary organisations, private companies and public services and co-ordinates projects to make life better.
Its vision for 2026 is of a safe Bournemouth with inclusive, vibrant neighbourhoods, healthy residents, good transport links, a strong economy and quality environment.
Bournemouth 2026, formerly known as Bournemouth Partnership, was launched in 2000.
For further details please contact Jenna Fansa, PR Account Director at Deep South Media, on 07812 245118.
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