Haven announces £20M expansion plans for Weymouth Bay
The company wants to put 240 more caravans on the site
Haven is hoping to add 240 caravans to its Weymouth Bay site in a £20million capital investment.
The company claims it will bring 70 extra jobs and enhance the biodiversity of the area.
A public consultation event is planned at the park site for January 9th with local councillor Louie O’Leary saying he and fellow ward councillor Peter Dickenson will arrange an independent residents’ meeting after the event.
Leaflets being delivered, by Haven, to homes in the area, say the southerly expansion, if allowed by Dorset Council planners, will add 239 ‘high quality’ static caravans; provide 5 hectares of wildflower meadow; plant 4,000 trees; enhance existing wildlife corridors and create new ones and improve the setting of adjacent Grade 2 listed St Andrew’s church as well as view of the area from the coastal path.
Said Haven in a statement about the plans: “The proposed development has been landscape-led, with a focus on providing additional substantial planting and a variety of landscape features to mitigate visual impacts of the proposal and to provide a high-quality environment for park guests and neighbours.”
It says the new caravans will be in colours which blend in with the landscape, rather than in beige and white.
Comments so far on social media have been mainly negative, often mentioning ‘over-development’ although one says: ‘great news for local businesses and the creation of more on-park jobs.’.
Haven say their consultation will be held between 11am and 8pm on Thursday January 9th at the Mash & Barrel, the entertainment complex on the site, when plans will be displayed and staff available to answer questions, with its consultation closing on January 12th.
At this stage the planning application has not been submitted to Dorset Council. Once it has, and has been been verified by council officers, there will be another chance for people to comment on the proposals direct to the council.