Boscombe - Present Day

Present Day

New development of the area around Boscombe was approved under the Boscombe Spa Development Plan in July 2006. This project was intended to turn the seafront into a spa village complete with an artificial surf reef. Completed in Autumn 2009 the reef was constructed as part of the restoration work that also included the Overstrand buildings. Reports on the reef's performance showed that it was failing to meet its performance criteria. In 2011, the reef was closed due to safety hazards explaining that the reef's sandbags had torn, were starting to leak sand and move around. Further investigation proved that one of the sandbags had completely moved out of place and substantially lost its contents and a second was damaged. The council state that they are in talks with ASR Ltd to repair and improve the reef but as of summer 2011 no work had begun. Funding for the development had been through the sale of the local seafront car park, to Barratt Homes for 169 seafront apartments, at Honeycombe Chine. As well as these flats there have been a number of other large developments of ultra-modern flats such as "The Reef" in Boscombe Spa Road and the renovation of Shelley Park into a medical centre and flats development, it is hoped to fully restore the Grade II listed theatre in the future.

In May 2007, for the first time, a property in Boscombe went for sale for £1 million. The property was a flat with views of the coast, and was the main headline in the Bournemouth Daily Echo. Boscombe gardens underwent a renovation project and was substantially remodelled, a public art trail was also installed around Boscombe as part of the renovation project.

The nickname Bos Vegas has gained popularity in recent years, it occurs with slight spelling variation in the names of two Boscombe businesses and is in common usage on many web forums.

Boscombe is also home to AFC Bournemouth who play at Dean Court. Many fans still refer to AFC Bournemouth as Boscombe, a reference to the days of Boscombe St John's.

There is a thriving street market in the High Street on Thursdays and Saturdays as well as a vintage market on the first Saturday of every month.