Local property investor Philip Oram has won permission to build a multi-million pound seven storey building opposite Bournemouth’s BIC (Bournemouth International Centre). The Dakota Building will have forty-five one bedroom flats and forty-five holidays lets.
The development will be built on the site of a former church which will soon be demolished to make room. Work is due to start before the end of the year and Mr Oram is confident that it will be completed by the end of 2013. The project is just part of the council’s Town Centre Master Vision plan which aims to bring a new vitality to the Dorset seaside resort. Mr Oram’s previous application for a 110-bed hotel was refused but his new plans were dealt with under delegated powers, rather than at the planning board, due to the fact that so few objections were received. The building is expected to be a huge success purely just because of its location.
Rex Craven is director of Goadsby who will be in charge of letting the properties. He said: “They will very much be in demand. They will sell well as buy-to-lets, as second homes and to first time buyers. This is probably one of the most important sites in Bournemouth, directly opposite the BIC and on a main artery road. There is no doubt any apartments in this location would be in demand.”
The mix of residential and tourist flats is expected to bring an increased vibrancy to the area. Landlords are already showing a keen interest in adding a property to their portfolio of homes which they will protect with buy to let insurance. The developer will also pay the council £192,000 for improvements to the road network. Mr Oram’s last development saw him convert an old nightclub into twelve flats which sold in just two weeks.