A major regeneration project in Boscombe will move into construction from June this year.

The Hawkwood Road scheme will turn a nine-hectare site into a new neighbourhood with 68 council-owned homes, a community centre, commercial space and local services for people living in the area.

BCP Council says the development will help people who need a stable home remain locally, while also easing pressure on the housing register and supporting families looking for suitable accommodation.

The first phase will focus on building the new community centre and a pedestrian link between Christchurch Road and Hawkwood Road. Work is due to start in June 2026, with completion expected in August 2027.

Changes to Hawkwood Road car park will be introduced in phases to support the work. A partial closure begins on 29 May, affecting around 50 spaces at the western end of the site, before a full closure from 24 July.

The full project is expected to be completed by August 2028. It will include retail kiosks, greener public spaces and better-connected streets.

Councillor Kieron Wilson said the start of work was “a really exciting milestone for Boscombe”.

He said the scheme would help deliver “the homes people need” alongside better facilities and public spaces.

Councillor Wilson added that the aim was to create a neighbourhood “that people feel proud of” and that works better for residents now and in the future.