NEW £30m plans to repurpose a Bournemouth town centre building have been unveiled – with another project being scrapped. 

Fortitudo’s £200m Boho Grand project in Glen Fern Road can no longer go ahead because “it’s no longer economically viable at the present time”, chief executive Richard Carr told the Echo. 

But now the Poole-based property development firm has revealed a “scaled down version” of the former 24-storey mammoth project. 

Speaking on the new scheme, Mr Carr said: “There will be a new ten-pin bowling centre in the basement, Megabowl and a new nightclub on the ground floor. 

The scheme will include a bowling alley in the basementThe scheme will include a bowling alley in the basement (Image: Fortitudo)

“The upper floors are being refurbished and there will be another two floors added to the building for student accommodation. 

“It’s basically tidying up the whole area and will be a scaled down version of what we were going to do before.” 

Boho Grand faced many challenges before it was given full approval by the government back in 2023. 

Historic England submitted a formal objection and asked the levelling up secretary Michael Gove to make his own decision on the proposals, saying it would “dominate and define Bournemouth’s townscape” – particularly near St Peter’s Church. 

Fortitudo chief executive Richard CarrFortitudo chief executive Richard Carr (Image: NQ)

But Mr Gove later elected not to ‘call in’ the development, saying he had government planning officer Tom Mills said: “The government is committed to give more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions 

It would have included flats and a hotel tower as well as a nightclub, boutique cinema, adventure park, restaurants and sky bar. 

South Western House, an abandoned office block in Glen Fern Road with Cameo nightclub on the ground floor, was earmarked for demolition as part of Fortitudo. 

Out with the old, in with the newOut with the old, in with the new

However, the latest project will not touch South Western House: this is part of another planning application by developer Rengen Developments. 

The Bristol-based firm has applied to BCP Council to erect another two storeys on top of the existing five-storey 1960s block to create 191 student flats and two shops where Cameo is. 

Bosses at Cameo have said that whatever happens to South Western House, the nightclub will remain in Bournemouth. 

A decison on the new project will be decided by BCP Council in due course.