A DEVELOPER embroiled in a row with council chiefs over the North Quay offices has taken the unusual step of unveiling its vision for the site.

After the collapse of the agreement to sell the building, a week of claims and counter claims, and as a £2 million legal battle looms in the High Court, Acorn South has revealed details of its plan to convert the former Weymouth and Portland Borough Council offices into 'marina view' apartments.

Many people had hoped the block would be demolished in any redevelopment plan and something new built in its place.

Acorn, which specialises in reusing existing buildings, says conversion will reduce costs so flats can be sold at a lower price, plus it will reduce the environmental impact and time taken to develop the site.

Despite the legal battle and the council stating earlier this week it had "lost confidence" in Acorn's ability to complete the sale, the developer said it was "committed to complete the purchase of North Quay" and hopes that issues can be resolved.

The council said it is "no longer engaged in a process to sell the building" to Acorn.

Asked why it was releasing the image of its vision now, an Acorn spokesman said: "Acorn believes the image will clear up any misconceptions which may have arisen about its future plans for North Quay.

"This is the scheme to which Acorn remains committed in the belief that it will greatly enhance the ambience around the marina."

It is the first time Acorn has communicated its vision for North Quay, and it comes a year after it exchanged contracts with the borough council.

The contract was rescinded by the council this month after Acorn, through its subsidiary North Quay Weymouth Ltd (NQWL), missed deadlines to complete the sale.

That led to Acorn announcing it would be suing the council over 'misrepresentation' because it understood it would get planning permission for converting the building when it agreed the £4.5 million deal.

The council dramatically hit back, denying any assurances were given over whether the building could be converted without specific planning consent.

It said it would be "vigorously defending" itself in a legal fight.

The council said Acorn had 10 months to engage with the community and communicate its vision for the site, while also applying for planning permission – but it failed to do this.

Now unveiling its vision for the site, Acorn says the block would have a refurbished exterior and there would be a "boulevard feel" outside with new tree planting.

A total of 108 apartments are proposed – 55 in the existing block plus 5 penthouses in a rooftop extension. There would also be 48 units split between two "sensitively designed contemporary new-build blocks" located either side of the existing offices in the car parks.

All the apartments would have parking and be accessed by lifts.

Julian Hampson, Acorn’s Group Design Director said: “From our first site visit, we saw the potential for upgrading the offices in a way which enhances views of it across the beautiful marina as well as offering new and much-needed quality homes.

“Our plans for converting the building respect its inherently attractive rhythm of well-proportioned windows set in a façade of local Portland Stone, and its ‘ship-like’ aesthetic.

“We believe there is a great opportunity to build on this, removing the visual clutter such as the water tower, hiding any parking from the street frontage."

She added: “There must remain a place for 20th century buildings in our historic fabric. We believe our vision delivers this in a manner which is complementary, through good design, to the surroundings and the setting of North Quay.”

An Acorn spokesman added: "Despite current difficulties Acorn has already committed to complete the purchase of North Quay in March 2018, which allows them to move ahead as fast as possible on a redevelopment scheme."

A borough council spokesman said: “While readers may be interested in the images Acorn South has provided, we have left Acorn South in no doubt that our contract with them for North Quay has been rescinded.

“We are no longer engaged in a process to sell the building to them. Acorn South failed to complete the purchase in accordance with the contract.

“We have lost all confidence in Acorn South’s willingness and ability to complete the purchase.”