The regeneration of Bournemouth town centre passed a significant milestone as an official turf cutting heralded the formal start of building work on a five-storey apartment block.

The £12 million development, on the former council-owned surface car park at Leyton Mount, will house 64 flats and a 290 sq m (3,120 sq ft) commercial unit suitable for a café or restaurant.

Businesses, council leaders and project partners all welcomed the plan during its public consultation stages as a way of improving safety in and around the Common and rejuvenating nearby Old Christchurch Road.

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The project is being led by the Bournemouth Development Company (BDC), Bournemouth Council's delivery partner for its 20-year Town Centre Master Vision. BDC, a public-private partnership between the Council and Morgan Sindall Investments, secured planning permission in 2012.

Funding for the scheme includes a £5 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)’s Get Britain Building programme.

Duncan Johnston, BDC Development Director, said: "The redevelopment of the Leyton Mount car park will be a catalyst for improvement at Horseshoe Common and the streets, paths and open spaces that lead to and from it."

(CD/MH)