THE MULTI-MILLION POUND redevelopment of the town centre at Bourne is to be carried out by Henry Davidson Developments. The announcement was made this week following a public exhibition last month when three preferred schemes went on display at the Corn Exchange. The other schemes were submitted by Dencora and the Harrison Group.

The decision from the Bourne Town Centre Management Partnership (TCMP) means that rebuilding of the core area, that triangle of land between North Street, West Street and Burghley Street, will begin in the next two to three years with an anticipated programme of approximately 12-18 months.

The selection of Henry Davidson Developments was made on the recommendation of a selection panel of the partnership, assisted by professional advisors Barker Storey Matthews. The public exhibition of the three schemes was held between 9th and 13th December 2004. More than 400 people attended and some 160 responses generated which, together with the comments of Bourne Town Council, were taken into account by the selection panel in reaching their decision.

The three schemes submitted were:

1 Henry Davidson Developments of Nottingham: The scheme extends and diversifies the town centre with retail-led development, emphasises existing routes across the site; promotes links to existing retail areas and links to public transport; provides public spaces; enhances pedestrian and cyclist access; retains existing buildings of architectural quality; enhances community safety; new buildings will reflect qualities and features of existing buildings; materials used will complement those found in the Bourne town centre locality and the scale of buildings to be in keeping with Bourne town centre and progressive town centre development.

2 S Harrison Group of Malton, North Yorkshire: The scheme will create a new shopping area, an additional 75,000 sq ft, which will enhance the vibrancy of the town; attract new, quality retailers; create a new centrepiece, a public square; create a new car park with 125 spaces; provide new public conveniences; improve pedestrian, cycle and road links to the existing town centre. As well as including attractive public spaces, it will also provide 40 new homes. The existing mill in Burghley Street will be converted into apartments. The proposal has been designed in sympathy with the attractive surroundings of Bourne. It will complement, not compete with, what Bourne already has to offer.

3 Dencora of Norwich, Norfolk: The scheme is sympathetic in both scale and style to the historic town centre. It takes into account the conservation area within which this part of the town lies. The layout full integrates into the current town centre with links north, south, east and west. The development is of a mixed use, incorporating approximately 70,000 sq ft of retail space with a number of residential units. Car parking of approximately 140 spaces is included. The residential units will create an appropriate streetscape around the new public square and add interest to the perimeter of the scheme through small courtyard developments. The scheme will promote traffic management and servicing proposals to help alleviate congestion on North Street. The proposal provides for around £20 million of investment in the town and will create a regenerated town centre and be a catalyst for further investment in the future.

Norman Stroud, the TCMP chairman and a member of the selection panel, said: “We have been greatly encouraged by the quality of the submitted schemes, and the level of interest in bringing a major commercial investment to the town centre. We were presented with three exceptionally high quality schemes and the selection process identified Henry Davidson Developments as the clear unanimous favourite. We look forward to working with them to achieve a redevelopment of this area that is vital to the future prosperity of the town.”

Ivan Fuller, the town centre co-ordinator, who has been at the forefront of the proposed development since May 2002, said he was pleased that the decision had been taken and Bourne could now move on to the final phase. He added: "It is going to take a considerable amount of time and full public consultation will be ongoing throughout the process."

WRITTEN JANUARY 2005