In February 2013 councillors at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council made the decision to move out of the North Quay offices following consultation with residents and businesses which supported the proposal.
A condition report estimates that the council would need to spend in the region of £2million on building and maintenance costs in coming years to stay in its main offices at North Quay. Moves out of the office are planned to take place in phases next year and will see the council significantly reduce its running costs. The council is set to submit a planning application this autumn for a high-quality mixed-use development on North Quay office site to help regenerate the harbourside and provide an economic boost for the area.
Council Finance and Assets Brief Holder Colin Huckle said: “A councillor working group has been looking long and hard at this and I’m pleased that we are at the stage to look at the consultation results. The consultation will help us move onto producing final designs in order to realise the very real and tangible benefits of moving out of the North Quay offices. We’ll be able to cut our running costs and regenerate the harbourside with a high quality mixed-use retail and residential development which will bring economic benefits for both the council and town in line with our vision for the Borough.”
A public reception is set to be retained in the town centre at the council-owned Mulberry Centre with staff delivering local services based at the council’s existing Crookhill Offices in Chickerell.
Back office staff will share South Walks House offices in Dorchester with colleagues from West Dorset District Council. The two councils remain separate, but now share a workforce, a move that has saved around £9 million in three years.
Proceeds from the sale of the council’s Guildhall building and together with Government money – awarded in recognition of the council’s partnership working – will help pay office conversion and moving costs.
This is estimated to be in the region of £650,000 depending on final agreed designs.
The North Quay site and other key harbourside sites are part of the evolving town centre master plan.
Image ion this page: An artist’s impression of the proposed development on the North Quay site (copyright Ben Penreath Associates).
The Management Committee agenda can be found online at http://webapps-wpbc.dorsetforyou.com/apps/democracy/managementDocuments.asp
Fantastic ,Weymouth is a gem, but there is a great need to move with the times . We need quality shops Bars etc on that side of the Harbour! Hated the council Building from day 1 even though I got married in there ! Eyesore ! The harbour is just waiting for the revamp !
Finally it looks like the council is getting something right. This looks fabulous and a fitting nod to our georgian heritage and history. The town forgets that it is in fact England’s original seaside town.
Sad to see that Council office staff will relocate to Mulberry, which was a proposed Art centre venue and had a lovely theatre, with stage and lighting installed. Guess this will all be wasted now, ripped out and turned into offices. Lets hope their current ugly building is pulled down and maybe a good hotel built on a prime site in Weymouth harbour.
As a local boat owner, I and many others use the Council office car park at weekends, evenings and on public holidays to access the pontoon moorings. Mooring fees have been capped this year but the moorings are still far from fully utilised. This situation will get worse if car parking is taken away from the harbourside and boat owners will go elsewhere. The new development has to consider the needs of harbour users, both local and those who live outside the area.
Just as long as the “Hotel” does not turn out to be a Travelodge!
There is a shortage of parking in Weymouth and looking at these plans the council car park will go and also the eight parking spaces adjacent to that car park which is used by permit parking L zone residents. With the increase of residential units and more activity in the area I wonder where we are all going to park our cars?
Good grief, the loss of the number of parking spaces in question is negligible. Compared to a number of other seaside resorts I have visited, Weymouths parking provision all along the front to Bowleaze is good + encourage visitors to use the park and ride more!!
Surely it is also preferable to demolish the worst eyesore on the harbour and replace it with a superior scheme. By re-integrating lost buildings with complimentary architecture and re-instate the historic street pattern.
The council should be complemented and it is hoped that when they encounter the inevitable hurdles they do not water it down to a cheap pastiche, as it shouldn’t be forgotten how long we had to suffer the council offices for!