Next step in plans to redevelop Weymouth Bowl and North Quay
Dorset Council's asked developers to put in formal proposals
Developers wanting to overhaul two 'key sites' in Weymouth are being asked to put forward their formal proposals from this week (7th October).
Dorset Council's looking for ideas for the North Quay and Weymouth Bowl areas, which would also then need planning permissions.
These sites are the first of four in total that form the Weymouth Waterfront project - that's had ÂŁ19.5 million of Government funding towards boosting the local economy.
Cllr Richard Biggs, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth, said:
“We have a clear vision for what regeneration in Weymouth might look like and hope that we see some strong, robust bids from developers to help us achieve that goal. We want Weymouth to be the best it can be and choosing the right external team to work alongside us, who can offer the skills and expertise we require, is a very important part of that.
“The easiest option for us would be to simply sell the sites at their market values which would offer the council a significant injection of income. But we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring improvements to Weymouth through high quality, sustainable developments which will stimulate economic growth and bring long-lasting benefits for local people. Any plans that are brought forward must be achievable and realistic.”
An open day's planned for potential developers to speak to the project team directly - and have tours of the site involved. dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/regeneration
That's planned for Wednesday 16th October at the Hotel Prince Regent.
Cllr Biggs continued: “This is a real milestone moment. Weymouth is already a national and international visitor destination, offering outstanding natural heritage, sea-to-plate dining experiences and an award-winning beach. Breathing new life into the town through regeneration will enhance those qualities and maximise further opportunities for growth.”
Across the two sites, the council wants to provide a mix of housing, including affordable homes, together with commercial enterprise.
Local people will be asked for their views on how they see these sites being used, with public engagement sessions and a survey due to take place in the new year.