MORE than £4 million has been allocated for a new community centre in Boscombe.

The funds will be used to build and fit out the brand-new centre in Hawkwood Road car park, which is due to close early next year. 

BCP Council’s vision is to create a social space which ‘belongs to the community’, and can be used for indoor sports activities, socialising and private meetings.

It would feature two large community hall spaces, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a large reception area, with space for a café.

The proposed centre forms a significant part of the Bournemouth Towns Fund Better Boscombe Regeneration initiative, which seeks to transform the area by spring of 2026.

It involves creating a vibrant new neighbourhood in Hawkwood Road, with 68 homes, a park, space for new businesses, high street improvements, a new boulevard and the community centre.

Out of the £23 million Towns Fund grant from the government, cabinet members agreed to allocate £4.1 million to the new community centre.

Cllr Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, said: “We are developing a new-build community centre in the heart of Boscombe which is being funded by the Bournemouth Towns Fund Better Boscombe Regeneration initiative.

“This week cabinet has discussed the allocation of £4.1million from this fund to the development of this neighbourhood hub.

“It will be located on the smaller car park on Hawkwood Road and the vision is that the Boscombe Community Centre will become a centre of culture, creativity and well-being in years to come.”

The local authority is also in the process of seeking an operator for the community centre on a 20-year-long lease.

Advertising the contract on Gov.UK, BCP Council said: “The anticipated start date of the contract is April 1, 2026.

“The selected operator will be awarded a long-term lease to run and operate the new community centre, and will be required to deliver services to the community.

“The estimated turnover of the concession is £750,000.00.”

The Better Boscombe website describes how the centre will be run by "an existing experienced not for profit organisation”, adding that “a number of potentially suitable organisations have already been identified”.