Eight-storey student block planned for old Bournemouth post office (From Thisisdorset)
When news happens send us your pictures, video and views. Text BE to 80360 or contact us by email
Eight-storey student block planned for old Bournemouth post office
6:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Latest By Stephen Bailey
DEMOLITION: The site of the former Royal Mail sorting office in Albert Road, Bournemouth where a new development is planned to incorporate commercial premises and student flats
A FORMER post office faces demolition to make way for an eight-storey high block of student flats.
Bournemouth Central Post Office was opened in 1896 but staff moved to WH Smith in 2008.
The building stretches from Albert Road to Post Office Road in the town centre.
The front section above the new Pizza Express on Post Office Road would be safe from the wrecking ball.
But a developer wants to replace most of the building with commercial units and 109 student flats, which are aimed at mature language students.
The design statement says: “It is now becoming industry standard to offer residential accommodation and many of the larger school groups expect to have approximately 30 per cent of their students placed in residential accommodation.
“By not offering this type of residential accommodation, Bournemouth is in danger of falling behind other study destinations.”
Bournemouth Central councillor Dave Smith said: “The development will bring life back into that area and bring people in.
“The developer showed us models of what the building will look like and you will hardly be able to see it from around the town.”
The plan would also involve making Albert Road two-way and closing it to traffic, except for deliveries, before 10am and after 4pm. The same restrictions are already in place on Post Office Road.
The design statement said: “This work once implemented, would also assist in creating an enhanced pedestrianised area immediately outside the Beales store main entrance and the banks opposite.”
Trinity Architects said the building would have a copper-coloured finish. The developer Poets (10) LLP is based at the Print Room in Albert Road.
Planning officers are considering the application.
Comments(31)
tricky1007
says...
6:21pm Thu 4 Oct 12
AnastasiaB
says...
6:25pm Thu 4 Oct 12
mpdor
says...
6:32pm Thu 4 Oct 12
KLH
says...
6:55pm Thu 4 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
7:00pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Old Colonial
says...
7:05pm Thu 4 Oct 12
KLH wrote:That would only benefit people wanting a relaxed and safe place to go in town. No money for developers in that!
The buildings in Albert Road could be used as a sort of courtyard complex consisting of cafes, small shops and other businesses. There could be raised gardens, outdoor seating, quite a bijou little development. Why does every bit of space going begging at the moment have to become student accommodation.
Eddie's dog
says...
7:47pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Miss Opinionated
says...
7:49pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Bring on the students!
aerolover
says...
7:52pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Also who in their right mind would want a court yard type of place with the weather we get.
Only other point is perhaps the developer is trying the same trick that is being tried by developers in St Leonard's Road, apply for foreign students only and get it passed then say they need to be able to let to Uni types to fill it. The residents did object but were over ruled when it was just for foreign students.
pete woodley
says...
8:05pm Thu 4 Oct 12
ividual you are.Then again its easy and safe to insult people on here,without giving a name.
Alumchiner
says...
8:17pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
9:02pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Vikki27
says...
10:12pm Thu 4 Oct 12
'Hmm yes, I agree. But I have a plan to make it better'
'Aha! Let's hear it then.'
'Let's knock down another piece of history and stick in yet ANOTHER block of disgusting student flats that NOBODY who lives in Bournemouth actually wants and will give us grief over for years to come.'
'Oh yes. The proverbial nail on the head! Just think of all the revenue!'
Sigh. Head? Meet the brick wall.
MrPitiful
says...
11:58pm Thu 4 Oct 12
From my experience, the answer is no. They tend to be more consientious, hard-working & the "mature" bit in their description kicks in a bit.
I think the students who drink etc. are the local uni types who are attracted to the bars & clubs through the uni & also the marketing activities of the clubs themselves.
To all the people above who are automatically assuming this will be a bad thing for the area due to this, just a thought - where are all your young/teenage children & grandchildren tonight? In their bedrooms playing Monopoly?
muscliffman
says...
12:06am Fri 5 Oct 12
KLH wrote:OK, but not with a multiplex Cinema and fast food outlets please!
The buildings in Albert Road could be used as a sort of courtyard complex consisting of cafes, small shops and other businesses. There could be raised gardens, outdoor seating, quite a bijou little development. Why does every bit of space going begging at the moment have to become student accommodation.
Your idea (only) would be preferable to future 'adult' student accomodation - But beware of any restrictive resident description because there is a little ploy that can soon easily change this planning aspect to 'any' students/people - ask the residents in part of Charminster.
For now though just follow the trail for any links between these developers and current Town Hall incumbants to find out what chance this dreadful idea has of going through. Usually a good gauge.
Redgolfer00
says...
1:23am Fri 5 Oct 12
Miss Opinionated wrote:Now Little Girl, where is the UNI situated, oh yes in POOLE so why do the people of Bournemouth have to have OUR town with student blocks all over the place.
I think you all underestimate just how much the students bring to this town. Nothing wrong with a few under 30's to liven the area up a bit. We have too many old fogeys hogging the pavements with their mobility vehicles and taking up most of the parking with their badges.
Bring on the students!
Albert Road a two way stretch, having a laugh, not wide enough and maybe if you recover from your drug and binge habits you might well get to live over 22 but then it will be in another town or city not Bournemouth and why should we give way to little girls like you.
dswilliams
says...
8:19am Fri 5 Oct 12
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
8:51am Fri 5 Oct 12
Redgolfer00 wrote:I think in reality and fact you'll find the Uni is much closer to Bournemouth town centre than Poole. Perhaps you have to give Bournemouth a little bit of credit then for 'stealing the trade'. It's got to the stage where bournemouth town could not function without students. It's probably it's largest 'industry.'
Miss Opinionated wrote:Now Little Girl, where is the UNI situated, oh yes in POOLE so why do the people of Bournemouth have to have OUR town with student blocks all over the place.
I think you all underestimate just how much the students bring to this town. Nothing wrong with a few under 30's to liven the area up a bit. We have too many old fogeys hogging the pavements with their mobility vehicles and taking up most of the parking with their badges.
Bring on the students!
Albert Road a two way stretch, having a laugh, not wide enough and maybe if you recover from your drug and binge habits you might well get to live over 22 but then it will be in another town or city not Bournemouth and why should we give way to little girls like you.
rugby_dave
says...
9:30am Fri 5 Oct 12
Redgolfer00 wrote:yes but the language schools are in BOURNEMOUTH! not Poole, and Poole does have student housing in the area (Sheldown Bridge for one) Besides the uni is only in Poole by the width of a road, and as they have chossen to be linked with Bournemouth and not Poole when well. Also considering most old people (I dont know how old you might be soo I'll not make any remarks about you) do you have to be so insulting about some one giving there opinion!? They are allowed too! Besides as stated there are alot of elderly population in the area (Christchurch having the highest average age in the uk! Bournemouth not as far behind as you would think!) so whats wrong with students! I went to uni at Southampton, we dont all cause problems, but as usual with the press and media they only focus on the bad news and not all the good work that students do. Also those saying about parking for students, dont really know students do you! most students dont have cars at uni and it is actively done like that, hence all the uni bus services. Little rant over, now back to work for me.
Miss Opinionated wrote:Now Little Girl, where is the UNI situated, oh yes in POOLE so why do the people of Bournemouth have to have OUR town with student blocks all over the place.
I think you all underestimate just how much the students bring to this town. Nothing wrong with a few under 30's to liven the area up a bit. We have too many old fogeys hogging the pavements with their mobility vehicles and taking up most of the parking with their badges.
Bring on the students!
Albert Road a two way stretch, having a laugh, not wide enough and maybe if you recover from your drug and binge habits you might well get to live over 22 but then it will be in another town or city not Bournemouth and why should we give way to little girls like you.
scrumpyjack
says...
9:39am Fri 5 Oct 12
Eddie's dog wrote:Really ? Or is that tonge in cheek?
Come on - students are the future.
Students gaining degrees are pretty much wasting their time nowadays.
From the Guardian:
Latest data shows 25% of 21-year-olds who left university with a degree in 2011 were unemployed compared with 26% of 16-year-olds with GCSEs
scrumpyjack
says...
9:43am Fri 5 Oct 12
KLH
says...
10:14am Fri 5 Oct 12
It is in a quieter part of the town centre and it would be nice to keep it quieter.
Redgolfer00
says...
10:34am Fri 5 Oct 12
rugby_dave wrote:Fair play to your comments, language schools put students into owner occupied houses, fact the Uni is on Poole land, go round to the Uni housing blocks and see the cars and the free buses because no parking and I notice that you did not go to Bournemouth Uni, I am over 65 and still working and do know a fair bit about students but the location of proposed block is wrong and why have such blocks in the town centre and if you think mature students think again as all ready pointed out in Charminster, rant over back to work for me !!!!!
Redgolfer00 wrote:yes but the language schools are in BOURNEMOUTH! not Poole, and Poole does have student housing in the area (Sheldown Bridge for one) Besides the uni is only in Poole by the width of a road, and as they have chossen to be linked with Bournemouth and not Poole when well. Also considering most old people (I dont know how old you might be soo I'll not make any remarks about you) do you have to be so insulting about some one giving there opinion!? They are allowed too! Besides as stated there are alot of elderly population in the area (Christchurch having the highest average age in the uk! Bournemouth not as far behind as you would think!) so whats wrong with students! I went to uni at Southampton, we dont all cause problems, but as usual with the press and media they only focus on the bad news and not all the good work that students do. Also those saying about parking for students, dont really know students do you! most students dont have cars at uni and it is actively done like that, hence all the uni bus services. Little rant over, now back to work for me.
Miss Opinionated wrote:Now Little Girl, where is the UNI situated, oh yes in POOLE so why do the people of Bournemouth have to have OUR town with student blocks all over the place.
I think you all underestimate just how much the students bring to this town. Nothing wrong with a few under 30's to liven the area up a bit. We have too many old fogeys hogging the pavements with their mobility vehicles and taking up most of the parking with their badges.
Bring on the students!
Albert Road a two way stretch, having a laugh, not wide enough and maybe if you recover from your drug and binge habits you might well get to live over 22 but then it will be in another town or city not Bournemouth and why should we give way to little girls like you.
Eddie's dog
says...
10:51am Fri 5 Oct 12
scrumpyjack wrote:Scrumpy Jack not my favourite cider - a bit too sweet. Stowford Press a lot more fuller on the tongue......
*tongue
Mature 'foreign' students living in the centre of Bournemouth can only add to the multi cultural vision for the town.....
By the way, did you that 'One Nation' is an anagram of 'No Etonian'..........
snowgoose
says...
10:52am Fri 5 Oct 12
MrPitiful
says...
12:47pm Fri 5 Oct 12
On one hand, we have the "Little Old Man Who Knows Best " brigade like RedGolfer ( not nice being called names for merely expressing an opinion is it? ). This brigade who mostly claim to have lived here all their lives, paid taxes, fought in the war etc. all throw their hands in the air in shock and horror at the slightest change or progress in the town. No problem with them having their opinions and indeed sometimes they are right. Especially when we have a seemingly inept council making the major decisions - which, by the way, the Little Old Man brigade were largely instrumental in voting into place and securely keeping them there since the year dot. ( another example of their fear & reluctance to change )
On the other hand, we have the "New Brigade" - the people whose opinions really matter. These people are going to be around a lot longer, they now contribute more to society both in terms of taxes and effort and above all, they are more open to progress and change, especially if it is for the benefit of the town. It is a shame we don't have more of the "New Brigade" allowed on the town council. Give it time.
Another good example of this was the announced development over on Exeter Road last week. There were plenty of the oldies screaming blue hell because they wanted a bus station whereas the more considered and "thinking-ahead" were happier with the actual agreed proposals.
In short, the older generations of Bournemouth need to realise that the times-are-a-changing and when they are not around in the next 10, 20 or so years, the younger brigade will not be left with a town stood still since the 70's. That's not to say a town full of bars, cinemas, puking students etc. is the way forward, but a town embracing change in culture, business & lifestyle surely is.
KLH
says...
2:07pm Fri 5 Oct 12
MrPitiful
says...
2:15pm Fri 5 Oct 12
I am referring to the contributors who actually give an indication of their age directly - eg RedGolfer in his post above, or indirectly by mentioning their memories of the 50's, 60's etc then relate it to their opinions.
Likewise with the younger age group - some directly indicate their age group and others do it more indirectly - e.g. indicating they do a certain job, undertake certain activities etc.
There is no offence meant by it - just trying to relate and analyse peoples opinions!
pete woodley
says...
7:38pm Fri 5 Oct 12
PIHP63
says...
11:05pm Fri 5 Oct 12
It is abundantly clear that the objectors that rant and rave have who contributed little to the world or our lives. The planning system will decide it what is proposed is right or wrong, part of the democratic process. They will continue to diss but forget that a scheme provides employment (for those who design , build and manage) , on going vitality for the town centre.
TheDistrict says...
6:08pm Thu 4 Oct 12
.
As the university is really located in Poole, why is Poole not building such high rise buildings to accommodate students (those who binge drink, frolic, and cause more trouble than townsfolk).
.
Yet ironically, Bournemouth cannot find the places and time to build affordable housing for its own people.
.