Plans revealed for North Quay and Weymouth Bowl
Dorset Council want to know what you think
Last updated 27th Jan 2021
New plans have been revealed for the former council offices at North Quay in Weymouth.
Dorset Council wants to knock the building down and create 72 new homes, in character with the area.
If you think the plans look familiar, well they are. The designs are by Pentreath architects, and were originally produced several years ago.
The proposed scheme includes:
demolishing the existing building and rebuilding to reflect the historical character of the area and reinstate the old High Street
72 housing units and 2 ground floor non-residential units
pedestrian walkways and garden areas
parking capacity for residents
an environmentally friendly scheme to minimise carbon impacts
Weymouth Bowl
Dorset Council also has a proposal for the Weymouth Bowl site and car park on St Nicholas Street that used to be occupied by the MFA Weymouth Bowl.
The business closed in April 2019.
Dorset Council has the freehold to the site with the option to purchase the leasehold from the existing tenant.
They're suggesting a mixture of retail, workshops and offices with flats above.
The proposed scheme includes:
demolition of bowling alley building and comprehensive re-development
a scheme design in keeping with neighbouring buildings and the character of the area, including materials such as brick, stone and render
4 non-residential units on ground floor for retail, commercial, workshops/studios or offices
residential accommodation of 59 flats above, offering affordable housing close to the town centre
parking capacity for residents
good use of valuable town centre land, providing mixed uses and regeneration of the area
Consultation
A public consultations' now been launched.
Once the survey has closed, we will review your comments, questions and ideas before:
design development: March to April 2021
submit planning application: early summer 2021
Cllr Ferrari, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property
With special responsibility for Regeneration and Development in Weymouth said:
" Over recent years a number of proposals have been brought forward in Weymouth which have not had broad community support and have failed to progress. The proposals outlined here are not firm plans and this is not a consultation in the formal, legal sense. They are deliverable schemes but more importantly they are a starting point for a debate.
"This is an engagement with Weymouth and Dorset's wider community about what is wanted on these sites. The comments will be considered and a firm proposal will be produced delivering the best possible scheme from all of the suggestions. That will be subject to the Planning Process with all of the normal opportunities for residents to comment on the final scheme.
"The most important thing about these sites is that something is done with them. They have languished for too long, damaging Weymouth's future, not contributing to it. No scheme will ever satisfy everyone but the broader support the schemes have the more likely we are to be able to take these wasted sites and bring them back into use, contributing to a better future for Weymouth."