Christchurch, Education, Sport | Posted on February 26th, 2025 | return to news
Great news for Christchurch water sports centre
Hengistbury Head Outdoors has signed a 99-year lease with BCP Council for the ownership of the Outdoor Activity Centre in Christchurch Harbour.
For decades, Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre has been a place for water sports recreation and education. But the centre was closed during the pandemic and has not fully reopened since March 2020, as the main building was deemed unsafe for public use by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
But the future of the centre now looks brighter, as a community benefit society has negotiated a 99-year lease with BCP Council to take over the running of the centre.
This lease effectively transfers the ownership of the centre to the local community via a formal Community Asset Transfer from BCP Council. It is believed that this may be the first formal Community Asset Transfer of an activity centre to a community benefit society completed by BCP Council.
The society, Hengistbury Head Outdoors (HHO), was set up in late 2023 to take over and rejuvenate the closed centre, in order to create a sustainable space for all members of the community to participate in outdoor activities.
As well as securing the lease, HHO has reached an agreement in principle for a grant from the Community Ownership fund of nearly £700,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (DCLG) to refurbish and repair the centre.
This grant is subject to certain conditions being met and HHO will need to raise around £150,000. HHO is actively seeking donations from the community, local business and grant providers to raise these funds.
The centre has a long history. In 1964, the Marine Training Centre (MTC) was opened at Hengistbury Head, and un the 1980s the name was changed to Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre.
In its last full year of operation, 2019, around 75 schools used the centre, which handled over 10,000 school sessions and more than 5,000 public sessions (adults and young people).
In 2021, (post COVID) BCP took back direct ownership of the centre and following a survey, the main building was deemed unsafe for public use and now has not been open since March 2020.
HHO and its team of volunteers now aim to start the refurbishment works as soon as practicable. They have developed phased plans covering the waterfront, the grounds and the key facilities required for the safe reopening of the centre to the local community.
The Outdoor Activity Centre is already utilised by several community groups, who will now have long-term use of the centre, and the aim is to widen the use of the centre to involve as much of the local community as possible.
To find out more about the centre, visit https://www.hengistbury.org.
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