Cabinet approves next steps in Levelling Up journey for Weymouth

At its meeting today, Tuesday 30 January, Dorset Council’s Cabinet agreed to approve recommendations to progress vital next steps in the Levelling Up programme of work.

In January 2023 Dorset Council was awarded £19.5m by Government to help regenerate Weymouth’s Waterside Economy. The council’s ambitions include essential enabling groundworks to allow the eventual development of several key sites in the town.

North Quay and Weymouth Bowl

Included in the recommendations discussed by councillors, was a request from officers to start a procurement process which will seek one or more development partners to develop both the North Quay and Weymouth Bowl sites. This would be subject to planning consent to demolish the old bowling alley on the St Nicholas Street site and an agreement from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to repurpose an amount of Levelling Up funding originally allocated to New Bond Street.

The former Weymouth and Portland Borough Council offices at North Quay are currently mid-demolition and until plans for a development in its place can be agreed upon, the site will become additional, temporary car parking. It is hoped the temporary car park will be ready in time for the Easter break later in spring.

A planning application to demolish the former bowling alley site is live on the council’s website and is inviting comments from local people and businesses. A decision on this application is due to be made at the beginning of March by the council’s Western and Southern Planning Committee. 

Following a robust soft market testing process, the council’s property advisers recommend that the best strategy for future development on the North Quay site is for the council to dispose of it through a procurement process. This will allow the council to retain a considerable degree of control over the design and quality of any future build. Councillors have agreed that this is the best approach and approved the recommendation.

Cllr Simon Gibson, Portfolio Holder for Levelling Up, said:

“The decisions made by Cabinet today mark an important and exciting step for the council’s Levelling Up project and for Weymouth’s long-term regeneration.

“We will carry out a robust procurement process and find the right development partner to develop North Quay - and subject to any planning application be approved, the old bowling alley site will provide high-quality developments for the town. This will showcase North Quay, prepare the way for later LUF developments around the peninsula and put Weymouth on the map as a regeneration location.”

A vision for the Harbour and Peninsula

Councillors also agreed to adopt a vision for the Harbour and Peninsula areas of Weymouth. A vision was developed by Professor Tony Bovaird, commissioned by Dorset Council to establish its ambitions, following engagement with stakeholders. The report divides the strands of proposed regeneration activity at the Harbour and Peninsula into short, medium and long-term options. Councillors agreed that the short and medium-term options are taken forward for progression, and the long-term options outlined in the report to be revisited at a later date.