The centre is to be built on the former site of the Winter Gardens

Bournemouth Borough Council's cabinet is meeting on Wednesday to agree the overall strategy for Bournemouth's Winter Gardens.

Councillor Angela Manton said the new centre would be a "magical fusion of music, dance and the wider arts right in the heart of Bournemouth".

The council hopes that the new centre will open in 2009.

The project attracted criticism after the old Winter Gardens hall was demolished to make way for the new development.

Several unsuccessful attempts were made to save it, but the council said the building was a "potential health hazard".