Work on a multi-million retail park at Weymouth Gateway has begun after being approved by Dorset Council.
The new retail park is set to create hundreds of jobs and provide a major boost to Weymouth’s economy, with an estimated near £5million expected to be generated and £6million generated in business rates every year.
Despite concerns about a lack of high quality jobs, traffic and impact on Weymouth town centre, councillors at Dorset Council voted 11-1 in favour of the development.
This is what you need to know about the retail park and what happens next.
What is the retail park and where is it going to be built?
They also make provision for a plot to be marketed for 'employment use', and another area set aside as ‘future development land’.
A large car park will be formed along with 32 proposed electric car charging spaces and cycle parking areas.
The retail park is Phase two of the developer’s masterplan for Weymouth Gateway site, which included the construction and opening of a new Aldi supermarket in September 2020.
Weymouth BID will also be working with the applicants on ways to promote the town centre to those who would be shopping at Weymouth Gateway, namely with a BID-operated community noticeboard promoting events and businesses with a map or signage.
Alongside the development, the site owners will build a timber acoustic barrier along the service yard to minimise noise impact as well as maintain the surrounding landscape.
What brands are moving in?
According to the developers, the new retail park would see Dunelm, B&M Homestore, McDonald’s and a Costa Coffee drive-through open on the site, subject to planning permission.
Dunelm and B&M would open their first branches in the town, and will mean that shoppers will no longer have to travel to as far as Poole or Yeovil to visit these shops.
The site would also be home to its third McDonald’s branch and the second Costa branch in the town.
How many jobs will be created?
The Weymouth Gateway scheme off Mercery Road will bring new stores to the area but also create 280 jobs, as well as 50 construction roles and 50 local jobs.
Tom Pinder of LondonMetric Property, said: “Having successfully delivered Aldi, we’re pleased that our proposal for the brownfield site at Weymouth Gateway will create another 280 year-round full-time jobs with associated training opportunities and career paths, along with 50 construction jobs.
“Plus, the increased economic activity from this is expected to generate another 50 local jobs.”
What happens next?
The then-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick signed off the plans earlier this year and work started at the site in late-September.
Visiting the scene, a number of construction vehicles are currently digging up the ground while some workers also appear to be surveying the land which has been fenced off to the public.
When will construction be completed? When will it open?
A spokeswoman for the developers said the retail park will likely take 18 months to construct.
A spokeswoman for the scheme said the retail park is targeted to be completed for late 2022.
There will be a phased opening with the restaurants expected to be trading by the middle of 2022.
Chris Newns, director of Avercet, said: “We’re delighted to be progressing our proposals so quickly.
“Once completed, they will revitalise a site that has been an unproductive brownfield for more than a decade, bringing much-need permanent jobs, investment and economic stimulus to Weymouth.”
Minor changes have already been made to the site, including minor reconfiguration of the internal ‘spine’ road and associated car parking alterations, and relocation of an external compound sales area at unit three to be moved to unit two.
The changes, approved by Dorset Council, will mean that discount retailer B&M can switch places with Dunelm, in line with the retailers' requirements.
It should be noted that any brands that move into the units will require advertisement consent to display their signage.
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