Bournemouth’s Winter Gardens Still in Limbo

Moving from crisis to drama and back again, redevelopment plans for Bournemouth’s Winter Gardens have suffered another setback, with the rejection by the Council of the latest set of proposals.

The plan that until now had been on the table, had been deferred by council members who were concerned by the heightof the proposed hotel on Cranborne Road.

Bournemouth Winter Gardens Theatre

The developers, Planning Solutions Partnership, had offered to lower the hotel frontage, but revised plans, which also included flats, restaurants and a cinema, were rejected by the council planning board. All of this follows on from the rejection of the firm's original £150m plans last year.

This latest setback comes despite the fact that the new version had been recommended for approval. Councillor Beryl Baxter who was among those voting against, said it would have affected the "quality of life" of Cranborne Road residents.

"The design of the structure didn't fit with the brief of what that area needs," she said.

For those who have followed this sad tale since the beginning, it is hard to imagine, but the Winter Gardens concert hall closed in 2002 and was demolished some seven years ago.