Harbourside land including old gas works site bought for redevelopment

WEYMOUTH'S regeneration vision has received a major boost after areas of land were acquired for redevelopment - including the former gas works site.

Dorset Council has purchased two previously developed parcels of land to the west of the marina. The two 'brownfield sites - at Westwey Road and Newstead Road - are now under council ownership, following a successful bidding process.

Part of the land acquired is the key harbourside site that was previously the old gasworks which included the famous gas holders which once dominated the town's skyline.

These two prime development sites bring together a portfolio which also includes other key sites surrounding the harbour - North Quay, Weymouth Bowl and the Peninsula.

Read more: Weymouth's last gas holder is pulled down

Levelling Up funding of £19.5m was awarded to the council in January 2023 based on its ambition to regenerate what is described as 'Weymouth’s Waterside Economy'. The successful acquisition of these two additional sites will help the council realise its aspirations, subject to securing planning permission to redevelop the land.

Read more: How the £19m levelling up money will be spent in Weymouth

Dorset Council’s Corporate Director for Assets and Regeneration, Tim Hulme, said:  “The successful purchase of these brownfield sites is a real milestone on our journey to regenerating the town.

“Weymouth is already a fantastic place and is home to many attractive and unique features, but we recognise that it does need investment to create a more diverse, thriving town.

"The addition of these prime development sites to our property portfolio will help us to achieve that by acting as a catalyst to attract future investment and boosting economic productivity.”

The next step for these sites will be for the council to secure them ahead of any redevelopment plans being agreed upon by councillors and submitted for consideration in the future.

The Levelling Up fund will be used to add infrastructure to and repairing harbour walls at Weymouth peninsula and at North Quay - to attract private investment to the town - and bringing forward work to Weymouth's harbour walls by 10 years.

It will also be used to enable Dorset Council to buy more land within the town centre for development opportunities.

The old council building at North Quay was recently demolished in part due to funding from the Levelling Up Scheme. It is now a temporary car park.

The planning conditions allow this site to be a temporary car park for up to three years while the council appoints a development partner.