Major delays to Tower Park refurbishment continue

The Tower Park Refurbishment project has been significantly delayed.  

The works, which started in September last year, were meant to be finished in Spring 2025 as an 8-month project. 

The £2.5 million project began in September 2024, with plans for new seating, landscaping and lighting. 

Tower Park, a leisure and entertainment retail park, is based in Poole, Yarrow Road, and is owned by Landsec, with Savills managing the site. 

Anne Jolliffe, Tower Park General Manager, said: “It’s been a challenge. The end of May is now the target date.” 

“There are things we’ve delayed and put off because the tenants have struggled…but they’ve since had a good trade here.” 

 Jolliffe said steelworks are being put on top of Vue: “We’re going to probably have to put scaffolding up again.”  

“It was beginning to look tired, we started looking before COVID to make a nicer area for people to sit, more greenery.”  

Jolliffe said that after COVID, Landsec looked to carry out the work on a tighter budget. 

“My restaurants here are trading really well at the moment.” 

“We’ve got a lot of interest- I can’t quote any names- of people to move into the park. I think it looks much improved, but we still have work to do.”  

According to worker Ricky Henderson at The Sweet Spot, Tower Park, previously Candy Cabin: “They’re almost a year behind.” 

“It’s still not finished now, and it’s going into the second Christmas.” 

Henderson said that people with wheelchairs and prams couldn’t access the footpath towards the shop. 

Aimee Saint, a visitor to Tower Park, said: “When we came for dinner- Nando’s and KFC were both shut- those are our top choices, but it’s not really impacted us, and we’re coming back to see the new Wicked.” 

Vue Worker Sian Kilshaw-Fall said: “Due to health and safety…we couldn’t have a grand opening.” 

Vue Worker Deltri Ceomolo said: “If we opened earlier, we would have had Superman of Fantastic Four, but we opened with nothing.”  

Holly Wood Bowl Worker, Charlotte Betteridge said: “With the construction work, People haven’t wanted to come to Tower Park.” 

 “Now it’s looking a lot nicer, we’ve seen an increase.”  

“Hopefully it won’t be too much longer.”