Bournemouth Council and the Gervis Meyrick Estate are gauging potential interest in a development site on Bournemouth’s seafront.
The co-owners have instructed Savills to market the scheme for a destination venue, called Happyland.
Interested parties are being encouraged to consider development ideas that will deliver facilities responding “positively and sympathetically” to its immediate surroundings, and improve the links between the cliff top and the beach.
However, cliff stability and planning policy have already been identified as key constraints to the development.
Located close to Bournemouth Pier and Bournemouth International Centre, the Happyland site originally operated as a bathing station, before it became an amusement arcade in the late 1960s.
Pat Oakley, councillor and cabinet member for tourism, leisure and the arts, said: “The council wants to deliver 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 alike.”
Sarah Hordern, of Gervis Meyrick Estate, added: “The design of any new development will need to be both of a high quality and fit well with both its immediate surroundings and Bournemouth’s ongoing vision as the nation’s leading marine resort.”
Savills is seeking initial expressions of interest by mid-July ahead of a formal tender process in the autumn.
Kevin Marsh, head of licensed leisure at Savills, said: “This is a unique opportunity to create a vibrant year round destination connected to both the beach and town. Potentially, this could combine a hotel with F&B at beach level and on the rooftop, but we are open to all ideas.”
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