Hundreds of residents and businesses were involved in initial discussions about ambitious plans for Weymouth Peninsula this week.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has thanked everyone who attended the three engagement sessions this week for their constructive views about the proposal.
The council unveiled initial ideas for the landmark to more than 200 residents and businesses.
All-weather attractions, new walkways and harbour improvements were among the most popular proposals in new plans to breathe fresh life into Weymouth Peninsula.
Vibrant destination
The project is part of plans to transform Weymouth and Portland into a vibrant, year-round destination for visitors and provide more leisure facilities for residents.
Proposals include under-cover leisure attractions, car parking, restaurants, a ‘boutique’ hotel and a larger mid-range hotel, and improved harbour and marine facilities.
They would complement Weymouth Pavilion and Jurassic Skyline attractions already on the site as well as other facilities and businesses in the town.
People are able to have their say on the proposals in an online survey, which is open until Friday 6 April.
Constructive and insightful
Speaking after the events, Councillor Jeff Cant, Leader of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and briefholder for finance and assets, said:
“The council has been considering how to best use community assets to launch a regeneration of the offering to the community, visitors and businesses, for some years.
“Since 2015, we have taken a conscious decision to move away from aiming for the maximum price to ensuring we create legacy sites which remain accessible to the community but also raise our game as an all year round destination for visitors.
“The peninsula proposals are the first fruits of this new ambitious approach and will shortly be followed by new plans for the North Quay site and for Commercial Road.
“I was delighted to see so many people come along and give their views. And my personal thanks to everyone who came along from local businesses and the wider community for contributing both constructive and insightful views.
“It’s clear that we are all equally committed to the development of the iconic peninsula site and the future of the borough.
“This development and the other plans we have will go a long way to transforming the borough into a year-round destination of choice and to improving on our reputation as one of the top coastal tourist resorts in the country.
“This is crucial for the future growth and prosperity of the community and local economy and for the generations to come.”
Bigger plans for town
The Weymouth Peninsula redevelopment scheme is part of the Weymouth Town Centre Masterplan, which outlines the regeneration of five key areas with new homes, jobs and top quality cultural and leisure facilities.
The peninsula project aims to appeal to families and new visitors. It also aims to appeal to those who use the harbour for fishing and yachting.
Some buildings and the redundant ferry terminal on the peninsula are due to be demolished, and work and repairs will also take place on a section of the Harbour Walls.
All views welcome
We will consider the views expressed at the events and in the online survey before submitting an outline planning application to establish principles of development on the site.
The outline planning application will focus on the scale and size of the development.
The council has not yet decided the exact type of indoor leisure attractions and hotel and restaurant operators. If the planning committee approves the outline plan, we would draw up a more detailed scheme. We will use comments and suggestions from the current engagement exercise to develop the final designs, which will form the formal planning application.
Cllr Cant added: “This is very much a community asset and all views are important.
“I encourage anyone who was unable to visit the exhibition to catch up with the plans at Weymouth library or online and fill in our survey.
“With such a large and complex project we won’t be able to deliver everything everyone wants. But we are committed to consider all suggestions before we submit an outline planning application later in the spring.
“We intend to deliver a redevelopment that the community can be proud of.”
The exhibition boards and visuals from the exhibition are on show in Weymouth library until Friday 30 March.
The online survey will be available until 6 April at dorsetforyou.gov.uk/weymouth-peninsula
