Weymouth's Colwell Shopping Centre could make way for new budget hotel
The shopping centre would be demolished
It's been vacant and vandalised since 2019 - but now there are new plans to redevelop an eyesore in Weymouth.
The Colwell Shopping Centre, close to the town library in School Street, has also been known as the School Street Plaza.
It has seen several attempts to revitalise the business over previous years.
If approved the shopping centre would be demolished to make way for a five storey 83-room budget hotel, restaurant and single interior shopping outlet, although the entrance area would look similar to how it does today.
Dorset Council has just validated outline plans to determine the principle of site access, appearance, layout and scale. If accepted the details will come in a later application.
The proposal comes from London-based 10 Ant Ltd, which has been behind previous attempts to redevelop for the site, which measures just under 2,000 square metres.
Poole-based planning consultant Darryl Howells says a public consultation of the event held in June 2022 at the shopping centre entrance was supportive of the plans.
In a statement to Dorset Council the planning consultant says there is precedent to redevelop the site and in 2016 an outline application was approved to demolish the existing building and construct a three storey replacement with two shop units at the front and 23 apartments to the rear, although the full application was later refused in May 2019 – citing harm to an adjoining listed building and a lack of detail over the demolition process and external finishes to the proposed building.
Increasing demand for accommodation
Said Mr Howells about the new application: “There is an increasing demand for budget style accommodation that suits a range of visitors, from individuals on business trips to couples and families on holiday.
"There is a lack of budget hotel facilities in Weymouth and the delivery of this facility on this site will meet this demand whilst complementing the existing range of tourist and visitor accommodation in Weymouth, ensuring that all sectors of the tourism market are adequately catered for across the town.
"This will increase the quality and diversity of the tourism offer in the local area, which will be of clear economic benefit to the town.”
Public comments on the proposals remain open until February 17th.