Weymouth Town Council backs £10m harbour wall repairs

Dorset Council submitted an application for harbour walls F and G, located along the northern and eastern boundaries of the Pavilion area, to be replaced with a new structure which is designed to last for 75 years.

Recent inspections of the walls have shown them to be in a 'very poor' condition and need to be replaced 'urgently' to avoid failure.

READ MORE: Weymouth peninsula harbour wall repairs to begin next year

The plans were discussed at a meeting of the planning and licensing committee at Weymouth Town Council.

The Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Jon Orrell, attended the meeting and described it as "vital for economic generation of the town."

Committee members showed unanimous support for the application. 

The project will be mainly funded by the £19.5 million Levelling Up Fund received by Dorset Council from the government in 2023.

It has been estimated by the council that the restoration will cost £10.5 million, with the rest of the project to be funded by Dorset Council and the Weymouth Harbour Authority.

The work would involve installing new sheet piles in front of the existing wall to protect the Pavilion area from rising sea levels. These would be capped with a reinforced concrete capping beam.

Plans would also involve excavating and reinstating the existing footpath along both walls as minor sink holes have appeared.

Aerial view of Weymouth peninsula (Image: Graham Hunt Photography)The planning document read: "Both sections of the harbour walls F and G have been noted to be in a very poor condition with residual life of less than 5 years during the inspections undertaken in 2018.

"Significant corrosion was noted to the piles especially at low water level with loss of retained material through holes formed in the piles."

"The proposed development is essential for the safety of the community from flood risk and to ensure a long-lasting waterfront infrastructure to be used for trade and commerce as well as for tourism

"This will in turn continue to support the following social, economic, and environmental objectives of sustainable development.

"Overall, it will result in a new structure with a design life of 75 years as part of the wider development plan for the Pavilion Area and increase the flood protection level for Weymouth Harbour."

It is expected that the works would take 12 months to complete. 

The work is part of a greater project to regenerate the waterfront economy of the town with work having already taken place across the town. 

READ MORE: North Quay council offices finally demolished

This includes the demolition of the former council offices and the restoration of the harbour wall at North Quay