THE WEST AWAKENS: Ambitious plan for economic growth

A ‘showcase’ document demonstrates what the area around Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester has to offer and sets out ambitions for growth through proposals that will create thousands of jobs, boost tourism and lead to new residential and business development.

Representing almost 90,000 residents and more than 3,700 businesses, the Western Dorset Growth Corridor focuses on local development with the aim to achieve a ‘better balance and more sustainable future’ for Weymouth and Dorchester whilst releasing the employment and investment potential of Portland.

Developments in the pipeline for the area include more than 4,000 new homes and 65 hectares of employment land as well as visitor attractions and transport improvements.

A document which details the beginning of the process showcases high profile schemes including the Weymouth Town Masterplan, Brewery Square and Charles Street in Dorchester, new housing developments coming online, employment and industrial areas on Portland and at Chickerell, and tourist attractions such as Jurassica and MEMO.

It also also mentions how growth can be supported by improved infrastructure including better rail links, a ‘rapid public transport system’ between Weymouth and Dorchester – and exploring the ‘economic potential’ of the Western relief road.

This was a planned but never built road scheme to relieve the A354 through Wyke Regis and thought by many to be the key to unlocking Portland’s potential.

The Western Dorset Growth Corridor document backed by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, West Dorset District Council, and Dorset County details the economic case in a bid to attract private investment plus further government funding through the Dorset (LEP) Local Enterprise Partnership, and bidding for future Growth Deal rounds.

Critics have said in the past how this half of Dorset often misses out on much-needed regeneration funding from the government compared to Bournemouth and Poole.

This happened particularly in 2014 when Weymouth, in need of a boost and on the verge of losing its cross-Channel ferry service, was overlooked in a Growth Deal funding payout which was heavily weighted in favour of the conurbation.

The Dorset Growth Deal is part of a long term plan to devolve at least £12 billion from central government to local economies creating thousands of jobs and new homes and attracting millions in public and private sector investment.

It was stated in the bid that Weymouth is an area of ‘relative deprivation’ and needed a boost to instil confidence in the private sector to invest.

The area did receive some good LEP funding news earlier this year however when an expansion of the Growth Deal was announced with the town centre masterplan, the MEMO project and Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester sharing in a £12.6 million investment pot.

The Dorset LEP has been looking to refresh its Strategic Economic Plan and have an up to date pipeline of projects that will inform the next Dorset bid for funding opportunities.

Economic development spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Cllr Mike Byatt said the Western Dorset Growth Corridor was about presenting the economic case for the area in the light of dwindling government funding to local authorities.

He said: “It’s not a finished document but it’s the beginning of the process to establish marketing who we are and what we want to achieve, and why people should come here and do business.

“It’s a really important document, a showcase, to try and secure further funding via the LEP as well as private investment. It gives a better understanding of what we have to offer in terms of development and economic potential and it illustrates it in a way that has not been done before.”

Cllr Byatt added: “Historically Bournemouth and Poole soaks up money. Although we’re not their size, we’re more important in terms of the economic potential."

“Government funding to councils is diminishing and we have to create our own agenda for economic investment and generate new revenue streams. We have to be ambitious.”

THE Western Dorset Growth Corridor is a strategic economic plan to ‘enhance sustainable growth and build a more resilient economy’.
It lists some of the major developments, enhancement schemes and infrastructure improvements being developed as an indication of the scale of economic growth and the strength of private and public sector partnership in delivery of the plan. Not all of these have reached the planning process.
Examples of developments and schemes include:
- Weymouth Town Centre (masterplan) – five major redevelopment sites that offer business, visitor public realm, learning and transport improvements. Includes 1,000 dwellings, 57.94 acres
- Weymouth College – Development of a new Advanced Engineering Centre
- Portland Port – access to English Channel, export opportunities, new cruise ship market, 36 hectares of employment land
- Osprey Quay – 8.6 hectares of employment land and 70 dwellings
- Portland – 30MW of tidal stream renewable energy opportunity, new £30m MEMO attraction and £60m Jurassica attraction
- Littlemoor Urban Extension – 12 hectares of employment land and 500 dwellings
- Chickerell Urban Extension – 820 dwellings and employment land
- Dorchester – 500 dwellings at Brewery Square, 27 retail units and 67 apartments at Charles Street
- Dorchester Urban Extension, Poundbury – 1,200 dwellings, six hectares of employment land
- Crossways – 500 dwellings and 3.5 hectares of employment land
- Transport improvements – enhanced rail station at Weymouth, faster rail links, introduction of a Weymouth-Dorchester rapid public transport system improving the park and ride bus network and rail service. 
Out of town parking increased in Dorchester and junction improvements. Plus economic impact assessment, environmental and traffic planning studies of the north and south routes including the economic potential of the ‘Western Relief Road’.

LOCAL politicians and business leaders have welcomed the news of a collaborative effort to try and win funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and said that it bodes well for the future prosperity of the area.
South Dorset MP Richard Drax said he was in favour of the application.
He said: “I really do support the Western Dorset Growth Corridor, and have written in to the Dorset LEP to show my support.
“This is refreshing to see because everyone is doing their bit, businesses and councils are making more of an effort to work together to bring benefit to the area in the longer term.
“Together, Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester are much stronger. 
"Together we are more likely to attract funding because as individuals, no matter how good the application is, the impact is less and we’re more likely to get funding together.”
West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin said working together could help enhance future prospects for the area. He said: “I am a keen supporter of the Western Dorset Growth Corridor: it’s great to see this combined bid for LEP support.
“The western end of Dorset is not just outstandingly beautiful; it also has huge economic potential, and this bid can help us to realise that potential.”
Phil Gordon, project director at Dorchester’s Business Improvement District, praised the initiative. He said: “It’s very good the three areas are working together. Things normally work better when there’s joined-up thinking, when people try to work in harmony. 
“It’s a great thing to see and generally you get far stronger results.”
Mickey Jones, chief executive at DJ Property which owns the Chickerell Link business park and part of the Granby Industrial Estate, said: “To try and maximise funding for projects in this area, I think it’s very important to work collaboratively.
“I think the best way we can improve the local infrastructure, which will help local businesses, is to improve the railways and the car parks. Personally, I think the Western Relief Road will never happen. It’s a very sensitive area, and roads are very expensive to build.
“We have to be realistic. We are a service based industry so if we can get people into the area, and get them to stay in the area, then that would be excellent.”