Shops and homes plan to regenerate Triangle

From the Echo, first published Saturday 18th Oct 2003.

MULTI-million pound plans for shops and homes on the site of Bournemouth's former C&A store will go before councillors on Monday,

The building, which has been largely empty since the clothes chain shut in 2000, would be bulldozed to make way for Tregonwell Court, with 12 shops and 80 homes.

Robert Kay, of developer Stallion , said: "We're very optimistic that it's going to regenerate this part of the town and I'm very anxious to get on with it."

There would be eight shops in the bulk of the Commercial Road development, with four smaller units in another section.

There would also be office space as well as 65 flats for sale and 15 for rent as affordable housing.

Mr Kay expects big High Street names to sign up to the project. "We're in advanced discussions with national retailers," he said.

Officers are advising Bourne-mouth Borough Council's planning board to approve the scheme subject to a list of conditions.

A report by planning officer Steve Davies says the scheme would complement council plans to regenerate the Triangle.

Original designs were inspired by the look of London's Harrods and Liberty but were toned down after talks with the council.

The report says: "The scheme has been modified and the style is now simpler and similar to the former Maples in St Peter's Road."

The council has received eight letters of objections and six of support, as well as 32 signatures on petitions supporting the plans.

David Williams, proprietor of The Watch Shop at the Triangle, said traders were keen to see the 1960s building re-developed.

Archive Home