Weymouth stakes its future on £26m regeneration plan aiming to reverse decades of decline
Councillors back Weymouth's ambitious 2040 regeneration scheme as plans will move town 'into the 21st century'
A sweeping regeneration programme promising homes, jobs and new cultural spaces has been given the green light in Weymouth.
Councillors have hailed the move, saying the town must “move into the 21st century” after more than two decades of stagnation.
The Weymouth 2040 project, backed by £19.5m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund and £5.8m from Dorset Council, aims to breathe new life into a town that many feel never recovered from the closure of Portland dockyard in the mid-1990s.
The multi-site scheme includes plans for a new hotel, tourist attractions, mixed-use developments, affordable housing and a University campus specialising in health and engineering.
Cllr Richard Biggs, the portfolio holder overseeing the initiative, said: “We all know the need to boost our biggest town in Dorset. The £26million investment in the town would have knock-on effects for the whole of the area.
“However, regeneration is a marathon, not a sprint and many of the projects have yet to go through the planning process where the detail could change.”
Among the flagship proposals is an invitation to Hall & Woodhouse to put forward designs for a hotel and leisure complex on the Peninsula, alongside new hospitality units.
At North Quay, the former council offices will be sold, with two local developers proposing a mix of homes and commercial space – the same applies to West Marina development.
Meanwhile, the former Weymouth Bowl site is earmarked for three residential and commercial blocks, with an emphasis on affordable housing.
Finally, a cultural hub is planned at The Rectory, featuring galleries, performance areas, a visitor centre and accommodation.
Initial plans also suggest a potential University campus for the area, focusing on dental training at first but with ambitions to expand into wider health, green energy and engineering courses.
For some councillors, the project represents long-awaited change. Cllr Jon Orrell welcomed the “much-needed investment” after “20 to 30 years of decline”, urging that new buildings be “high quality” and provide wet-weather leisure options for residents and visitors.
Portland councillor Paul Kimber, who lost his dockyard job in 1995, offered cautious support. “I wish there was a bit more for Portland, but I have to look at the greater good. It will bring jobs and opportunities for our youngsters and hopefully quality jobs.”
With unanimous Cabinet approval, Weymouth’s long-promised regeneration is now formally underway, though the town faces a long road from aspiration to reality.