Boscombe High Street is getting greener through a new public realm scheme bringing eight trees, 21 large planters and new seating to the pedestrianised section of Christchurch Road. Part of the £1.65 million Boscombe High Street Project, the improvements will enhance around 300 square metres of public space while supporting local businesses, celebrating Boscombe’s Victorian heritage and creating a more welcoming town centre.
22nd September 2026
Boscombe High Street is set to become greener and more inviting through a new public realm scheme bringing trees, planting and new seating to the pedestrianised section of Christchurch Road. Part of the wider Better Boscombe regeneration programme, the improvements are designed to create a more attractive place to shop, meet and spend time while supporting local traders and celebrating the area’s character.
The public realm project will introduce eight trees in planters along the pedestrianised section of Christchurch Road. Some existing planters will be refurbished, while 21 large new planters filled with perennial plants and grasses will add more colour, structure and greenery to the high street.
The planters will be made from Corten steel, a weather-resistant material chosen for its durability and relatively low maintenance requirements. A two-year maintenance programme will also support the planting once it has been installed.
Altogether, the scheme is expected to improve approximately 300 square metres of public space. Installation is planned for September 2026 as the wider Boscombe High Street Project moves towards completion in autumn 2026.
The changes are not solely about adding plants. New timber and steel chairs will be installed alongside curved benches designed with a coastal influence.
These additions should provide more comfortable places for shoppers, residents and visitors to stop during their time in Boscombe. Creating places where people can sit, meet and take a break could also encourage visitors to remain on the high street for longer.
This matters to nearby cafés, shops and independent businesses, which benefit when people see the town centre as somewhere to spend time rather than simply pass through.
New wayfinding features and interpretation boards will highlight Boscombe’s Victorian heritage, helping people discover more about the buildings and history around them.
This connects the greening scheme with other work taking place through the Boscombe High Street Project. A new Shopfront Design Code has been created around traditional Victorian timber-and-glass shopfronts, while grants are helping property owners and traders renovate shopfronts, clean façades and restore neglected buildings.
The intention is to improve the high street without removing the individual character that makes Boscombe distinctive.
The wider Boscombe High Street Project has a budget of approximately £1.65 million. This includes around £610,000 allocated to public realm improvements, alongside funding for renovation grants, trader grants and the Shopfront Design Code.
Funding includes support from the government’s Towns Fund, with further investment being contributed by participating businesses and property owners.
The project aims to create a safer, more attractive and economically resilient town centre. Its wider targets include increasing footfall, bringing vacant or underused spaces back into use and supporting more homes and employment opportunities above high-street premises.
The greener high street forms one part of a much larger programme of investment across Boscombe.
Plans elsewhere in the town centre include Hawkwood Gardens, a new public park opposite the future community centre, and a landscaped pedestrian boulevard connecting Hawkwood Road with Christchurch Road. The boulevard is expected to feature trees, planting, seating and spaces for small retail kiosks.
Transport improvements are also intended to make it easier to walk and cycle between the high street, Kings Park, Pokesdown Railway Station and Boscombe’s seafront.
Together, these projects are designed to make central Boscombe feel more connected, welcoming and pleasant to explore.
Trees and planters will not transform the high street on their own, but they can make a noticeable difference to how a public space looks and feels.
Combined with restored shopfronts, heritage features and new seating, the greening scheme should help soften the pedestrianised area and create a more appealing setting for local businesses, markets and community events.
The result should be a high street that feels greener and more comfortable while still retaining the lively, creative and slightly unconventional identity associated with Boscombe.
More information and project updates can be found on the Better Boscombe High Street Project website.
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