Dorset Council has appointed architects Austin-Smith:Lord to a project aimed at securing Weymouth’s position as a thriving harbour and tourist destination.
Currently the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project is only at concept phase. With the architect on board we can now start designing the detail.
The appointment marks another significant step forward for the project which was awarded £3.79m of investment from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund in March this year.
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, said:
“I am pleased that this exciting project in Weymouth, backed by over £3.79 million of investment from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund, has moved a step closer today.
“Through working hand-in-hand with Dorset Council, we will ensure that this seaside town remains a world-class tourist destination with a thriving harbour.”
The project aims to sustain and create jobs by delivering
A multi-purpose harbour building, including:
- a Centre of Excellence for small-medium enterprise on the quay, including employment and co-working space, a café or kitchen and bookable training spaces and meeting rooms
- facilities for boat crews
- secure storage and facilities for the Harbour Authority
- state of the art training facilities attracting maritime, marine and other industry students
Improved harbour facilities, including:
- new pontoons to improve and extend access to fishing and other boats
- fishing improvements
The project also aims to attract more visitors to the area with a pedestrian walkway around the Peninsula.
The end result will be to transform a brownfield site on Weymouth Harbour and turn it into a space of economic regeneration, creating employment and safeguarding jobs by supporting local small and medium sized enterprises.
Government investment in the project was secured following a bid made to the Coastal Communities Fund by Weymouth’s Coastal Communities Team.
Dorset Council is delivering the project in partnership with the Weymouth Area Development Trust (WADT). While the council is leading on delivering the building and harbour improvements, WADT are focussed on what the Centre of Excellence will deliver to the local business community.
Chris Wilson, Chief Exec of Weymouth Area Development Trust said:
“This is great news. The planned Centre of Excellence for Small Medium Enterprise is the first of its kind in the country and the Towns business community is involved in its design and delivery. We are looking forward to working with the architects to design a building that will hold such a flagship project.”
‘A big step forward’
Cllr Gary Suttle, Dorset Council portfolio holder for Economic Development said:
“Having Austin-Smith:Lord on board is a big step forward for our plans to help regenerate
Weymouth Quay and to position the town as an attractive year round destination.
“This project is all about encouraging growth in the heart of Weymouth. It offers the chance to create jobs and businesses, all to the benefit of the local community.
“We want the project to deliver a huge improvement to the quay in the long term.
“To do this we know we need to engage with local people, specifically harbour users, to get their views so the designs brought forward offer the best match possible to their needs.
“I urge anyone with an interest in the outcome of this project to come along to the engagement sessions that are going ahead in the coming weeks.”
Have your say
Engagement events are set to take place in November with harbour users and the wider public to share initial thoughts on the development and give the opportunity for feedback.
An open session at Weymouth Library will take place on Monday 18 November from 2pm until 7pm. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project is welcome to attend.
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Regeneration projects are well and good.but sometimes they ruin the atmosphere . also they bring parking problems, which weymouth already has. Causing over crowding . I would hate Weymouth to go the same as my home town of Southsea .which is congested , and over crowded .as parking and over satuation were not taken into consideration.
Will there be anybody there to answer questions ,ie harbour master.
Hi Phil, yes the project team will be there from 2pm until 7pm, ready to answer your questions 🙂
Thanks,
Imogen
Very disappointed that this report makes no mention of Weymouth BID who have supported this project from the outset and made a financial contribution to the cost of the application to win the funding and who have been guaranteed office space in the finished building and continue to contribute to on going discussions on behalf of levy payers.
Hi Helen, the article does reference that the bid was made by the Weymouth’s Coastal Community Team (CCT), of which the BID is part. For brevity, I linked to the CCT’s website, rather than list all of the member organisations. Sorry if you feel the BID has been overlooked, that’s not the intention.
Imogen
Hi, Surely before any more large projects are started, the project of 2012 ie: ridgeway bypass, should be completed after all this time and non-trasparentcy. the (PINEAPPLES ) BOUNDARY MARKERS AS PROMISED SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THE BORDER OF WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND. ACCORDING TO ANONCEMT IN THE LOCAL PRESS AT THE TIME. They were taken away and temporarily moved for their own safety during the ridgeway road project, later when completed would be replaced as promised.
I am interested in attending the library meeting on Monday 18th.
Great news Mollie, the project team will be there from 2pm until 7pm, ready to answer any questions 🙂
Imogen
A long time coming to improve the image of Weymouth along a wider front. Hope the others in the drawing board will follow suit
If the issue of tidal flooding in Weymouth is an issue that will need addressing in foreseeable future why are plans being considered (even in draft) that ignores this issue.
The flood barrier plans, albeit concept, on file at the Council suggested a barrier across the harbour roughly where the ferry crosses – slap bang in the middle of proposed moorings.
Joined up far sighted thinking – I don’t think so! Why is nobody considering this?
Thanks for your comments Paul. I will make sure they are passed onto the project team.
Imogen
Hi Paul
The project team have asked me to let you know that the tidal barrier across Weymouth Harbour is not needed until 2060, according to the study carried out this year. The proposals are aiming to make best use of the quayside in the meantime.
Many thanks,
Imogen
Will the improvements allow for a future ferry service to the Channel Islands to still be accomodated if Brittany Ferries & their associates should take an interest in the shortest route to the islands so sorely missed.
Hi Rory
There are no plans for a ferry service at present but the link span is being retained which helps keep options open for the future.
Thanks,
Imogen