The contract is the last to be let from the £9 million Boscombe Spa Village Regeneration programme and ensures the reef will be completed, at the latest, by 31st December 2008. The core construction period will be July-October and the estimated completion date remains the end of October, depending on weather conditions.

Councillor Stephen MacLoughlin, Leader of Bournemouth Borough Council says: “The deal has been done to bring the long-awaited surf reef to Boscombe. ASR Ltd had previously been commissioned as designers of the reef and will now use their expert knowledge in this highly complex marine construction project to achieve the performance requirements specified by the Council.”

The first delivery of construction materials, which includes the webbing base and the first consignment of geo-textile bags, is due to arrive late June in Southampton Docks. The bags will then be transported to an undisclosed area in Dorset where they will be assembled onto the webbing base at a harbour-side location and loaded onto a barge for deployment at the Boscombe site.

Nick Behunin, Managing Partner of, ASR Ltd says: “We are pleased to be introducing Europe’s first artificial surfing reef as part of the Boscombe regeneration plan. We believe our ground-breaking technology will be integral in increasing tourism to the area. The regeneration of Boscombe, with the revitalisation of the Pier, Overstrand and new surfing facilities, restaurants and shops are really transforming Boscombe into an exciting surfing destination.”