Redevelopment of Happyland Building in Bournemouth

Future Opportunity Notice

7 June 2018

Redevelopment of Happyland Building in Bournemouth

Bournemouth Borough Council and Gervis Meyrick Estate are working together as co-owners to investigate the potential redevelopment of Happyland on the seafront of Bournemouth’s West Cliff.

West Cliff forms part of the seven miles of award winning beaches that line the bay, with a further three miles of beach stretching through Poole. The beachfront has a wide variety of recreational activities ranging from making the most of the natural beauty to retail, restaurants and leisure facilities. The Happyland building was originally constructed as a bathing station during the 1938-1946 period but has operated as an amusement arcade since the late 1960s.

Happyland is in a central location in Bournemouth. It is on the beach, close to the Bournemouth International Centre and within walking distance of shops, restaurants and other attractions. As part of Bournemouth’s West Cliff, it is part of the quarter that includes Alum Chine, Branksome Chine and Canford Cliffs.

Bournemouth Borough Council and the Gervis Meyrick Estate are undertaking a period of soft market testing to identify potential options to develop and reinvigorate the Happyland site to capitalise upon the development and growth of Bournemouth and to deliver the following objectives:

DESIGN OBJECTIVES

1. A high-quality development creating a vibrant world class year-round destination point for Bournemouth and its seafront, offering a selection of tourism and leisure facilities for both visitors and residents. The design must fit with, and be influenced by, the immediate surroundings. The final appearance from the beach side will be highly important, as will the way in which the building form nestles into the surrounding cliff.
2. Improved linkage between the cliff top and the beach for users of the building.
3. Improved linkage between the cliff top and the beach for the public – this may be achieved by replacement of the existing ‘zig zag’ as part of the redevelopment.
4. A sustainable and energy efficient building.

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

5. Delivery of long term operational excellence, working in harmony with seafront services and other operators, to enhance the reputation of Bournemouth and the seafront
6. Delivery of an operation which is commercially viable in the long term.
7. A ground floor offer accessible to and attracting beach users with a mixed use of catering, retail and/or leisure facilities.
8. Provision of uses and facilities that complement the existing facilities in the Pier Approach and seafront area in accordance with the Seafront Strategy.
9. Re-provision of public toilets if the adjacent existing facilities are incorporated into a comprehensive redevelopment.

The ambition is for a world class development which optimises this unique, beachfront location. A concept based on a hotel and leisure scheme has been developed to test an appropriate scale, massing and architectural treatment for the site. This has been based on surveys and technical investigations of the site, the detail of which will be made available to interested parties. Interested parties are invited participate in a soft market testing exercise where they may bring their own innovative designs and solutions.

Interested parties are invited to contact Sam Munnings at Bournemouth Borough Council in the first instance on 01202 456320 or sam.munnings@bournemouth.gov.uk

Interested parties can express an interest in the opportunity through the Council’s eTendering website; www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk . Interested parties will be advised of any next stages in the process.

This future opportunity notice is not a call for competition and no contract(s) will be awarded at this stage. Interested parties should note that they are responsible for their own costs in participating in this soft market testing exercise and neither of Bournemouth Borough Council or Gervis Meyrick Estate shall be responsible for any costs of any party.