Plans for 'Centre of Excellence' for Weymouth stalled
Dorset Council say they can't afford to build it on the Peninsula.
Plans to build a Centre of Excellence on Weymouth Peninsula have been stalled.The facility would be aimed at supporting local marine businesses and creating more jobs.
Dorset Council say due to the impact of Covid-19 they can no longer afford to site the building there.
They're suggesting looking for an alternative location.
The Weymouth Coastal Community Team's Quay Regeneration Project Board, whose members include Weymouth Bid, Weymouth Area Development Trust, Weymouth Town Council, Weymouth College, Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce and Dorset Council were recently told of the impact the Covid 19 will have on the Dorset Council's delivery plans for the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project.
The Project includes:
Bringing damaged and brownfield areas of Weymouth Harbour into full use giving fishing and maritime businesses space to exist and grow, safeguarding and creating jobs.
Landscaping and creating an attractive walkway on the Harbourside to attract more visitors, who will use local businesses, safeguarding and creating more jobs.
Building a Harbour Centre of Excellence for Coastal Business and Skills to support and grow SME businesses and entrepreneurs and create more jobs.
In a joint statement, the Weymouth Coastal Community Team Project Board said:
"We are disappointed to hear the news that Dorset Council will no longer be able to site the Centre of Excellence for small and medium Coastal Businesses on the Harbour.
"The members of the Weymouth Coastal Community Team and Project Board are committed to finding a workable solution and alternative site for this central part of the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project.
"Right now our business community needs all the help it can get due to the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic; we need to create and safeguard jobs, and attract new business to the Town.
"Dorset Council have informed us they will be restarting the rest of the build works as soon as possible.
"They have already completed the wall repairs and will be starting work on the demolitions of old disused terminal buildings, and the building of the walkway, in the due course".
Dorset Council said:
"The impact of Covid-19 means that Dorset Council has far less available capital than it had planned when this year's budget was set.
"While the amount of funding we are contributing to the project remains unchanged, we need to gain best value for money for the local community from the development of the area in the future so we can maximise available funds for post-pandemic priorities.
"With this in mind, we have determined that building the Centre of Excellence on the Peninsula site needs to be reconsidered.
"The Board is currently helping us look for alternative locations for this part of the project.
"This review will help keep our options open for opportunities to develop both the Peninsula and harbour, and find premises for the Centre of Excellence that will provide comparable facilities in a location that we feel is more appropriate and doesn't limit potential future development of the surrounding area."