FEARS that new businesses are being deterred from Portland as a result of the proposed Academy school are growing for the borough’s planning committee chairman.

Councillor Peter Farrell ‘has real concerns’ that Southwell Business Park is losing trade as a result of the Academy scheme.

No planning application has yet been submitted, but up to 10 firms within Maritime House have been told they will be relocated on the site to make way for the school.

Business park bosses said The Venue hotel will be reduced from 78 to 50 bedrooms after the Olympics and the relocated businesses would be accommodated within that.

A public consultation, involving more than 200 people, is complete and the Aldridge Foundation – behind the Academy plans – is set to submit a report to the Department for Education for the funding agreement by Christmas.

Councillor Farrell, who has been on the planning committee since 1999 and chaired it for four years, fears the ‘common misconception’ that the Academy is definitely going ahead is deterring new business.

The land, currently allocated for ‘industrial and commercial use’ under the Local Plan, would require applicants to prove that the site was not attracting enough business, before the planning committee could allow a school there.

Coun Farrell said: “I’m very concerned that by ploughing ahead all contrary to policy, this is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Southwell Business Park has played an important part in the local economy for some 15 years, facilitating hundreds of small businesses.

“What is going to happen to the business centre if some two thirds of the site is taken over for pupils?

“How many jobs will be lost from the local economy?”

Portland Academy bosses denied that businesses were being deterred and said initial results from a recent public consultation were ‘overwhelmingly positive.’ Jane Fooks, academy director for Portland for the Foundation, said: “I haven’t heard of anyone being deterred, we’re just rounding up our consultation material and it hasn’t come up once. Generally speaking, the business park communities are really excited about the opportunities, in terms of bringing kids in, giving them skills and making it very much a community hub.”

Lee Paul, a partner at Compass Point Estate which runs Southwell Park, said he felt ‘reasonably positive’ following an initial meeting with planning officers.

He said: “Areas in which the academy is proposed have already had change of use for planning – the hotel and spa for example.

“The main issue is traffic at peak school times, we’re employing traffic assessment plan with a consultation in the next few weeks and we’ve appointed design teams.”

He added: “The businesses affected by the relocation are less than 10.

“The intention is to reduce the hotel from a 78 to 50-bedroom hotel post Olympics, as it wouldn’t be sustainable at that size, and relocate the businesses into existing facilities.”

The council responds

WEYMOUTH and Portland Borough Council spokesman for environment and sustainability, Councillor Ian Roebuck said: “We have not yet received a planning application for an Academy at Southwell Business Park.

“According to the local plan for Weymouth and Portland the land in question is a strategic employment allocation, meaning it should be used for industrial and commercial purposes.

“Any application would be considered in the light of prevailing local and national planning policies and would be subject to the usual consultation process.”

Find out more at aldridgefoundation.com