Plan for new affordable flats at old bowling alley in Weymouth town centre

The bowling alley closed down in April 2019 and has been empty ever since.

The building is falling into disrepair Picture: Michael Taylor

If all goes ahead, the plan is to demolish the derelict St Nicholas Street building and start again from scratch, also using the car park as part of the development.

Dorset Council owns the freehold of the site and has acquired an option to purchase the long leasehold interest of part of the site from the existing tenant.

Side view, before and after Picture: Dorset Council

What is being proposed?

The council wants to build 59 affordable flats as part of a 'mixed use' scheme.

At street level, there would also be four non-retail units - and the council is keen to hear ideas from residents about what they would like to see in the space - whether it be shops, hospitality, a museum or other community use.

Parking will be on the ground floor in an 'undercroft' below the buildings, and would include allocated parking for the flats, plus visitor parking spaces.

Also included in the proposal is a garden deck.

Is this a good proposal for Weymouth?

Dorset Council needs to build new homes, and using 'brown field' sites that have previously been developed, such as the bowling alley, reduces the need to built on green spaces.

The loss of a leisure facility will be a blow for many, however the council explained that the building has fallen into disrepair since it closed - which, combined with the ongoing coronavirus situation - places a question mark over its future as a bowling alley.

Read more: MFA Bowl on the market after £200,000 roof repair bill

How will the new building look?

The development falls within the town centre conservation area - which means any new development must be in keeping with the style of other buildings in the area.

Dorset Council said the plans fulfil this criteria. The new build would be constructed from brick, stone and render.

Although several storeys higher than the current building, it has been designed so that, viewed from St Nicholas Street, the building will appear three storeys high.

Will the flats be affordable for locals?

Whilst the council has vowed to do all it can to ensure the flats are genuinely affordable, no guarantees can be given at this early stage.

No decisions have been made on whether all the flats would be for sale, whether some would be rented, or sold as part of a shared ownership scheme.

The average salary in Weymouth is around £25,000 per year - which would enable someone to take out a mortgage of around £81,300 - £113,000, according to website moneysavingexpert.com.

Meanwhile, Government criteria for affordable homes is 20 per cent below current market value, capped at £250,000 for areas outside London.

Planning policy calls for 35 per cent affordable for all schemes greater than 10-15 units of which 70 per cent is social housing and 30 per cent ‘intermediate’.

‘Intermediate’ is 80 per cent of market value.

The Weymouth bowling alley proposals aim to offer 38 per cent affordable housing.

It comes as new luxury flats are proposed at the North Quay former council office site.

• Read more: Mixed reaction to North Quay and bowling alley homes plans

This has led to criticism from some that wealthy and less well-off people are being separated into two sites, amid accusations of a 'town centre ghetto.'

However, the council has said that the way the luxury and affordable housing is divided up, has two significant benefits for the town.

These include an increased amount of affordable homes, as well as helping to generate the maximum amount of income from the prime development side on North Quay, to help fund a project to repair Weymouth's harbour walls.

• Read more: Two major new developments for Weymouth unveiled

The council is now encouraging local residents and businesses to share their views and questions on the proposals, with a closing date of February 28.

The plans and questionnaire are available to view at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/north-quay

You can also view an online presentation outlining the proposals at https://youtu.be/pLpQ7CHGyAE