Bournemouth Development Company lands building excellence award

The Bournemouth Development Company has won a prestigious industry award for its £12 million development, Treetops.

It received the LABC award for New Housing – Best high volume new housing development (more than 30 units) in the South West – at the LABC Building Excellence Awards, the UK’s largest awards in the building control sector.

Treetops, which is based near St Stephens Church in Bournemouth, will now go through to the national awards in London on January 28, 2022.

The Treetops development, completed during the height of the pandemic safely and in line with government guidelines, was built by local contractors Parsons and Joyce .

It offers 46 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

The apartments are operated as a private-sector rental scheme through BCP Council’s wholly owned company, Seascape Homes & Property.

The Bournemouth Development Company is a 50:50 public-private partnership between BCP Council and national urban regenerator, Muse Developments.

Toby Marden, Senior Development Manager, pictured left, said: “We’re delighted to win the award.

“It’s a real testament to the hard work that has gone into creating high-quality contemporary homes that are helping to create a sustainable town centre community.

“We’re committed to repurposing under-used sites in partnership to benefit communities and in this case we’ve used a local contractor, which employs local people to build the scheme.

“Together with BCP Council, the Treetops development has transformed this once unloved site into a series of stunning apartments that drive local economic growth.”

Mark Parsons, of Parsons and Joyce Contractors, said: “As a local company we were pleased to be awarded the contract for Treetops.

“The vision of the team from day one was provide a scheme that stands out with the quality of workmanship and finishes.

“By being awarded an LABC Award this proves, we achieved our goal.”

Cllr Philip Broadhead, BCP Council’s Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration, said: “It’s fantastic to see one of our major town centre developments recognised at a national level for its excellence in housing and infrastructure.”

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Yellow Coaches and megabus put branded coaches on the road

Yellow Coaches, in partnership with megabus, has launched three dedicated branded coaches on service m3 linking Poole, Bournemouth and Southampton with Heathrow and London.

David Squire, Managing Director, said “We are delighted to launch these coaches, featuring a full rear promotional advert for Bournemouth that will be visible to motorists and pedestrians along the journey.

“They will stand out, particularly at London’s Victoria Coach Station, and really help to drive further customer growth on the service.”

Mark Venables, Managing Director, megabus, said, “There is so much going on along this route, from beaches, theatres, night life, airports, universities, open spaces to the global attraction that is London, it is incredibly popular.

“It is great to see Yellow Coaches’ vehicles now with the megabus branding and continuing to offer a first class service.

“The direct trips between the South Coast and Heathrow are growing quickly and connections are available to, and from, many more UK cities meaning that more and more people are rediscovering the convenience and comfort of coach travel.”

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Launch of Better Breathing Clinic in Swanage by Lewis-Manning

A Better Breathing Clinic has been launched at Swanage Hospital, hosted by Lewis-Manning’s Respiratory Specialist Physiotherapist, Louise Hopley.

Jo Whale, Director of Clinical Services, said: “The Better Breathing Clinic has previously only ever operated out of the hospice in Poole.

“As part of our current strategy to bring care ‘closer to home’, we have been expanding our services to hubs across the communities of Poole, East Dorset and Purbeck.

“We are delighted that this service is now being offered in the heart of the community in Swanage.”

Louise Hopley (centre) with (left to right) Pat Edmunds, Vicki Gray, Sally Churchill, David Dean, Jo Whale and Paddy Rideal.

Louise said: “The service will be run out of Swanage hospital, with regular appointments available to patients needing help and support with their life-limiting condition.

“Breathlessness can be frightening.

“We help people with respiratory conditions, such as COPD and lung cancer.

“The clinic is very patient-centred – it is about listening to each person’s journey and their individual experience of breathlessness and how it impacts their lives.

“The assessment is an opportunity for me to learn about what coping strategies the individual already uses and, together, we look at other ways to help such as breathing techniques, positions to ease breathlessness and fan therapy.”

To access the service patients need to be registered with a GP surgery.

Any healthcare professional directly linked to your care can refer you to the Better Breathing Clinic.

For further information please call 01202 708470 and ask to speak to the Better Breathing Team or visit Lewis-Manning’s website by clicking here.