World Class Leisure Plans for Cabinet Support | South West Economic News

Plans to transform miles of coastline and harbor scenery in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole into a world-class seaside leisure destination could take a major step forward next week.

A new venture – dubbed BCP Seafront Strategy – has been developed to set out a “unified vision, ambition and priorities” for the investment campaign.

It was designed to be “living and evolving – with the flexibility to respond to new pressures, opportunities and proposals as they emerge over its lifetime”.

A report written for the April 13 PCO Council Cabinet meeting noted that adopting a clear strategy for the waterfront “is essential.”

‘The seafront provides much-loved community space for local residents, a diverse range of natural habitats and is at the heart of a local £1.1billion tourism industry,’ he added .

“At the heart of the new seafront strategy is the recognition of the diversity of landscapes and identities of different parts of the seafront. It identifies 18 distinct ‘character zones’ along the 15 miles of coastal seafront and 26 miles of harbor edges, showcasing how each has a distinct community and sense of place.

“The strategy aims to ensure that future investments strengthen these identities and communities and contribute to an overall sense of place.”

Extensive public consultation took place over the summer of 2021 to inform the final draft, with over 100 potential improvement projects subsequently identified.

The Cabinet is now asked to approve the BCP Seafront Strategy for adoption, as well as to support the principles and criteria for prioritizing investments.