A MAJOR planning document guiding future development in Weymouth - including earmarking sites for more than 400 homes, employment land, leisure sites and a proposed transport interchange - will be debated at a major meeting.
The latest draft of the Neighbourhood Plan - which contains significant changes compared to earlier documents - will be scrutinised at a Weymouth Town Council meeting tonight - Wednesday. If endorsed, the plan will progress to the next stage.
Such is the anticipated interest in the plan, the meeting is being held at the larger venue of the Hotel Rembrandt instead of the council chamber to allow more people to attend.
The area covered in the plan is the largest in Dorset and one of the biggest in England - and sets policies for Weymouth's future development up to 2038.
It has been prepared by residents and councillors who make up the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group during what the council says has been "several rounds of engagement and consultation".
The town council said the updated version of the plan reflects changes made from feedback about what development is desired where and what land should be protected in Weymouth.
Among the changes are some housing sites being struck off the list - including land off Budmouth Avenue at Preston - while there is now little support for a controversial plan to build homes on town centre car parks. Redevelopment proposals could happen if strict criteria was met.
It is said the plan has been drawn up to respond to residents' concerns by addressing - in planning policy terms - the need for more affordable homes (especially social housing), better and local job opportunities, protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment and helping communities thrive.
Other key points of the plan include prioritising new affordable homes for local residents - particularly young families and key workers - constraining new development in the town centre to stop properties becoming second homes, restricting the amount of HMOs in areas where there is already plenty, and making land available for public open space or green space.
Site allocations
Land at Wyke Oliver Farm, Preston allocated for 250 homes (incl. 125 affordable homes)
Land off Beverley Road, Littlemoor allocated for 25 homes (incl. 12 affordable homes) and green space.
The Mount Pleasant Park Old Tip site could allocated for a mixed-use development, with plans to re-vamp it as a transport interchange facility, with leisure use and renewable energy generation.
The plan document states: "Dorset Council supports bringing the site back into full use, as a ‘mobility hub’. We envisage a multi-modal hub that brings together an enhanced park and ride service using electric buses, creation of an EV charging hub for up to 30 charging bays with solar PV, and integrating services such as shared bike hire, parcel lockers, last mile logistics, overnight camper van park and coach stop. This will encourage mode shift and reduce volumes of traffic entering central areas of Weymouth. In turn it will also reduce demand for town centre car parking, freeing up car park sites for redevelopment and support the regeneration of Weymouth. The current overflow car park area could provide an out-of-town bus depot."
Additionally, there is land at the Lodmoor old tip which is earmarked for both leisure and employment use – this would see small scale industrial units or workshops, buffering planting, contaminated land.
Other areas earmarked for activity include Jubilee Sidings which could be used for a multi-storey development for employment, training and housing
Redevelopment proposals relating to car parks in and around to the town centre will not be supported unless the proposed development conforms with other relevant policies in the Neighbourhood Plan and provides a comprehensive proposal addressing all the following criteria.
The latest draft of Weymouth’s Neighbourhood Plan was published on the council’s website last week. If endorsed tonight, it will then be submitted to Dorset Council who will put the plan out to public consultation early in 2025.
David Northam, Chair of Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, said: “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan over the last three years.
"We are now at the stage where Weymouth Town Council will be presented with the updated plan and endorsement sought.
“If endorsed, the plan is then submitted to Dorset Council, which will provide a further opportunity for Weymouth residents to have a say on it.
"There will then be a referendum on whether you support the plan or not. Your involvement is important for you and your children’s future in Weymouth.”
The meeting is set to take place at the Chesham Suite at the Best Western Hotel Rembrandt, Dorchester Road, on Wednesday, November 20 at 7pm.
The key benefits of the revised plan are:
- 425 new homes are enabled with 50 per cent (212) affordable on three mixed site developments, 16.9ha of land
- Allocating 3.82ha land as transport interchange hub to relieve peak period stress on the town centre
- 15.3ha of land allocated for leisure use, mostly outdoor
- 3ha of land provided for employment use on two sites
- Constraining future development on town centre car parks
- New affordable homes are prioritised for local residents, particularly young families and key workers
- New development in the town centre is constrained as principal residencies, rather than second homes and holiday lets
- Brownfield land in the town centre is prioritised for leisure, employment and affordable housing in an amended town centre plan
- 31.9ha (hectares) of land transferred for either public open space or added to Lorton Valley Nature Park
- Nearly 60ha of land is designated local green space, protecting areas of importance to local communities for future generations
- Green gaps and wildlife corridors preserved between Littlemoor and Preston
- Green gaps and wildlife corridors preserved between Radipole, Nottington and Redlands
- Conversion of premises to Homes in Multiple Occupation is restricted in areas within Weymouth which already have a high incidence
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