2:13pm Thursday 9th September 2010
By Katie Clark
BOURNEMOUTH council will submit a compulsory purchase order for the remaining lease on the Imax building.
Subject to full council’s approval of the planning brief on Tuesday, the CPO, which is used by a local authority to obtain land for redevelopment when the owner does not wish to sell, will be issued.
Cllr Peter Charon, leader of the council, said: “Our negotiations with the leaseholder of the Imax unit continue and we remain optimistic that we can reach a settlement.
“However, to make sure that we secure the lease so that we can achieve the residents’ aspirations for the site, we are also progressing a compulsory purchase order.
“Once the lease is secured the site can be marketed for redevelopment with the planning brief.”
Potential developers will be issued with a strict set of instructions for the site, which include a condition that the building – either the current one or a replacement – must be reduced in height to restore sea views.
Cllr Charon said: “How well developers meet this brief will be a significant consideration in the determination of any future planning applications for the site.”
He added: “We are working extremely hard to secure vacant possession of the Waterfront building as quickly as possible.
“As soon as we have this we can turn our attentions to finding a developer that will deliver an all-weather facility and building on site that we can finally be proud of.”
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