Weymouth: North Quay car park could be open for three years

Dorset Council is preparing to open the North Quay site as a car park following the demolition of the former borough council's Municipal offices. The office block stood empty since 2017.

North Quay is an important redevelopment location and has been earmarked for millions of pounds worth of investment funding - probably for a housing scheme - but it appears nothing is going to happen anytime soon as Dorset Council says the new car park could be in place until 2027.

The car park is all set to open before the end of April (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

READ: Weymouth: North Quay council offices finally demolished

The opening of the temporary car park is ‘not the solution’, says a prominent town property developer.

Mickey Jones, of DJ Property, has blasted the council for a lack of urgency on delivering a new development at the harbourside location.

Speaking to the Echo, he said: “The car park gets some income in, I suppose, but what they should have done before demolishing it is to have a plan.

Dorset Council is allowed to use the space as a car park until 2027 (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

“It’s a prime waterfront site for development, putting a car park there is of no long-term use at all.

“What they should have done is work out what they are going to do - it’s not the solution Weymouth needs.”

The former council offices were finally demolished in February (Image: Andy Jones)

Mr Jones is preparing to renovate the Rectory building on St Thomas Street after recently acquiring the Grade II listed building.

He showed an interest in the North Quay site -  before it was demolished.

Mickey Jones of DJ Property (Image: Supplied)

“The building should never have been knocked down,” he added.

“I approached the council to redevelop the site, with the building, but they had no interest.

READ: Rectory could become Jurassic Coast museum

“They should have sold the site many years ago and if they wanted to control what was going there, they could have included several covenants in the sale.

“For whatever reason though, they retained the site.”

Volunteers and archaeologists working on the dig at North Quay (Image: Supplied)

The former council building has been derelict since 2017 with the demolition not beginning until December of last year, following an archaeological dig at the site.

READ: North Quay open day sees people learn about Weymouth's past

The site has been earmarked for a share a £19.5 million fund that Dorset Council were awarded through the government’s Levelling Up Fund to help redevelop parts of Weymouth.

A luxury apartment development proposed in 2021, which would include commercial units, has yet to materialise, and Mr Jones believes the council should stick to delivering essential services rather than playing at property development.

Artists impression of potential North Quay development proposed in 2021 (Image: Dorset Council)

READ: Plans for luxury homes at former Weymouth North Quay council offices

He continued: “The simple answer to this is the council should be delivering public services – they are not property developers, and this is why the site is not developing.

"It is such a shame, it has so much potential, and I would love to be involved.

“But until something changes, I am not investing time in the site until it’s available to purchase.

“We have a lot of these sites, such as North Quay, the bowling alley and the peninsula, they need to come forward and be developed.

“For all of these need to move forward they need to be sold by the council.”

The lines have now been painted and visitors can expect to be using the car park soon (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “The provision of a car park at North Quay is a temporary measure while we go through the process of procuring a partner to develop this site.

"A condition of the planning permission only allows this site to be used as a car park for a maximum of three years.

“Appointing a development partner, drawing up proposals and going through the planning process can be drawn out, so rather than let it stand empty, we felt this site should be used for the benefit of the community until such time as we, or our chosen development partner, are ready to submit a planning application to build on it.

"Community engagement and consultation with local businesses will form part of the development process. We will keep the community updated with our plans in good time for everyone to have their say.”

As previously reported, the new car park may also act as a drop-off point for cruise ship shuttle buses if an agreement is reached.