A SEASIDE resort made popular in the Victorian era is set for a major revamp including a new community hub and park.
The town is set to undergo the works as part of a wider £23 million regeneration project for the area.
Boscombe, located in a suburb of , has a population of 21,000 and has long-established itself as a popular .
The town has even earned the nickname Bos Vegas in more recent years.
Now the area is set to undergo an extensive regeneration project, which will see the construction of a new community hub in the town.
With the new centre, the council plans to create a social space which “belongs to the community”;;.
The area is earmarked for everything from indoor sports activities to socialising and private meetings.
It is set to feature two large community hall spaces, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a large reception area, with space for a café.
The cost of the community hub is currently estimated at £4.1 million, while a new park is also planned for the town as part of the project.
Phase one of this masterplan will also see a revitalisation of the high street, with added green spaces and wider walkways.
Five retail kiosks, a facility, and new are also planned for the town.
The planned work will also include four schemes to improve connectivity between the town centre, Pokesdown Railway Station, and the seafront.
This will help to create a connected and vibrant area for residents, businesses, and visitors, making journeys in and out of the area “easier, safer, and more attractive”;;.
According to the Bournemouth Towns Fund Better Boscombe Regeneration initiative, work will begin on the community centre in the coming months, with the hub set to open in April 2026.
And in the meantime, there is still plenty to do in this coastal town.
Boscombe has two main and a variety of smaller ones, with the main town beach consisting of a sandy stretch.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of water activities, including surfing, paddle-boarding, and kayaking.
Or if you prepare to stay on land, beach-goers can participate in volleyball, table tennis, and swingball on the sand.
The local pier, measuring 600 feet, offers stunning views of the coastal area.
History buffs can also take in the decades-spanning architecture throughout the town, including the Royal Arcade and St Clement’s Church, both of which date back to Victorian times.
The design of the new community centre is said to be a “contemporary interpretation of Boscombe’s historic Victorian character, making references to the double-height arches of nearby Royal Arcade”;;.
And for a more unique architectural experience, visit the local Boscombe Devil, a grotesque placed on a building facing the O2 Academy, formerly the Boscombe Theatre in the 1920s.
The idea was to show the local Christian ministry’s disapproval of the theatre opening on Sundays.
There are a variety of restaurants and gastro-pubs to choose from or you can make the short 6 minute drive to Bournemouth for more options.
You can opt to stay in one of the local hotels, with Bournemouth’s Ravensbourne Hotel offering rooms from just £65 per night during the peak summer season.
