COUNCIL chiefs are taking a fresh look at the redevelopment of the former council offices in Weymouth – and say an old vision for the site may be considered in discussions.

Poundbury architect Ben Pentreath’s stylish and sympathetic plan for a mixed use development – of a design influenced by Georgian Weymouth and which includes restoring the old High Street through the middle – was given outline planning permission ahead of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council selling the North Quay two years ago.

There was no requirement on the buyer to use this plan – and in fact the council selected Acorn South which had planned to convert the offices rather them knock them down and build something new.

Now following the collapse of the sale to Acorn South, the council is taking a new look at North Quay, and wants to be involved throughout in what happens there.

Leader of the council Jeff Cant said recent discussions have resulted in senior figures deciding:

  • The North Quay offices will not go back on the open market. The council will instead team up with public sector experts who will put forward some detailed proposals for the site. The council will be involved throughout the process so will have more of a say what happens there
  • The council wants a ‘legacy’ mixed use site incorporating commercial, retail and residential uses – not just the maximum return from the sale of the land
  • The council does not envisage the offices will remain in any development plans

Cllr Cant said: “All options are open. We want something striking on the harbourside, and it won’t purely be residential. We want a mix of things, in a range of styles.”

Dorset Echo:

When asked if Ben Pentreath’s plan, above, will be considered, Cllr Cant said: “Well, that plan is approved. The original scheme will be in the mix; all previous work is included in the brief.”

Mr Pentreath, who worked closely with master planner Leon Krier on Prince Charles’s Poundbury scheme, was brought in to design the McCarthy & Stone retirement flats on the old fire station site at North Quay. He was approached by council officers a few years ago to come up with a masterplan for the old council offices next door.

Mr Pentreath produced a mixed use scheme reintegrating historic buildings that would create value and ‘bring life to this corner of Weymouth’.

He considered the buildings surrounding the site as well as those originally at North Quay, including an old Tudor house, and incorporated this into his design.

He also restored the old street pattern, which runs from the Boot Inn behind the offices.

The scheme incorporated office and shop space plus a mixture of smaller flats, big homes and apartments, plus parking.

A few years on with North Quay still awaiting redevelopment, Mr Pentreath told the Echo he was “happy to put the scheme back in the court of public opinion” as a suggestion of what could happen to the site.

He said: “You go through life as an architect knowing that only about ten per cent of what you design will every get built so I’ve learnt not to be disappointed.

“I treated the North Quay scheme as an enjoyable design exercise. Obviously I’d be very excited if it did happen. It could be done – the scheme exists.

“The plan is on my website and every now and again I get a few calls about it and I say that it’s still there so it could happen.

“It’s not a fully detailed scheme. But it’s one suggestion. It’s not quite oven ready, but it almost is.”

THE council is taking a new look at North Quay after the sale of the site to Acorn South collapsed.

The firm wanted to convert the offices into apartments – however the contract was rescinded by the council in September after Acorn 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 says it will be vigorously defending itself in any legal battle.