SHIPPING containers were placed along Bournemouth beach yesterday as part of a new council initiative. 

Two shipping containers, supplied by Lymington-based conversion company New Forest Containers, arrived on the back of two lorries on Tuesday, March 14 at Boscombe beach. 

The “ambitious” BCP Council scheme, named Toft Box Park, is for new start-up businesses to set up a base along the beachfront. 

A spokeswoman for the council said a total of 30 applications from businesses for the three site spaces and that the applications process is now closed.

Bournemouth Echo: Shipping containers in Boscombe beachShipping containers in Boscombe beach (Image: Daily Echo)

Located to the right of Toft Steps, the site has been a home for some time to derelict cabins, including a toilet block, and is due to be formally launched around Easter time. 

One more of the containers, which are insulated, fitted with electrics with an exterior soon to be fitted with green cladding, will arrive today and all will be placed along the side of the cliff. 

A toilet block fitted with sink and taps is fitted in one of the shipping containers. 

Daniel Savin, owner of New Forest Containers, said the shipping containers and his business concept are a good example of upcycling; the shipping containers would have otherwise sat unused in a shipping yard. 

Bournemouth Echo: Dan, of New Forest Containers, and the teamDan, of New Forest Containers, and the team (Image: Daily Echo)

He added: “We have put the first two shipping containers in and the first one is for start-up businesses and the second one is the toilet block. 

“There will be one more bifold unit to go in and in the next two to three weeks we plan to add composite cladding to it all the way round. 

“Inside we have insulated them, framed them, flat lined it, done the electric and steel frames around the bifold.” 

Funding for the seafront box park is from almost £22million from central government’s Towns Fund scheme for Boscombe, with the Toft Box Park costing £140,000. 

Bournemouth Echo: CGI of what the project will look like eventuallyCGI of what the project will look like eventually (Image: BCP Council)

Ten projects have been planned for the regeneration of Boscombe, with each one requiring a detailed business plan in order for the full funding to be granted.   

Various other projects are planned for Boscombe’s regeneration, funded by the £21.7m, including a Kings Park learning and skills hub, overhauling transport connections including walking, cycling and bus routes and purchasing the Royal Arcade to create affordable commercial space for independent businesses.