Work is continuing on the second part of the Ocean Views scheme on Castle Road, Portland.
The borough council has been working closely with developer, Fulca Ltd (a Comer Group company), which is currently carrying out important land stability monitoring work in conjunction with their consultant team.
It is hoped that the second stage of the development can begin in spring/summer 2017 subject to land stability, which includes the conversion of Prince Andrew House into 157 apartments, as well as 191 new apartments built to the rear of the property.
However, there is a significant amount of work that needs to be completed in the meantime before work on Prince Andrew House can begin.
Robert Sheppard, Head of Portfolio (UK) at Comer Group, said:
“We have been carrying out slope stabilisation monitoring for the past eight months to assess movement and cyclical recovery in the land to the rear of the site. If only limited movement, within the parameters of the previous modelling, is confirmed then the next stage will be to start the preparatory works for piling which is planned to commence in spring/summer 2017. The piling works will be carried out using Continuous Flight Auger piling rigs; so there will not be any of the noise levels associated with driven pile systems. The method will need to be agreed in detail with the council’s officers in accordance with our construction stage plan commitments.”
“These works are hugely significant since, as well as enabling construction of new homes, the works will enhance the stability of the whole slope including areas external to the site. This augmented stabilisation will provide additional long-term security to the 20 existing social houses, as well as historic harbour-side housing, a public house, a hotel and other buildings which are located at the base of the slope. A large number of the piles at the rear of the site (and costs) are designed specifically toward this augmentation.”
Once completed, work on the renovation of Prince Andrew House would commence.
Cllr Ray Nowak, Environment & Sustainability Briefholder for Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, added:
“The council has been working closely with developer Fulca Ltd on the next stage of the development, which will see the transformation of the redundant ex MOD building and the area behind it transformed into a further 348 homes for Portland and the borough.
“The scheme will drastically improve the appearance of this prominent area and deliver economic enhancement in the way of long-term local employment.
“While assessment works are still ongoing, we would like to highlight that security is important and that people should not enter the site.”
Public meetings will be held before the piling works commence and throughout the duration of the project so that residents and the wider public can be kept involved.
