Council urged to back £5m tank site tenders

10:45am Monday 6th October 2008

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COUNCILLORS are being asked to approve the issue of tenders worth an estimated £5 million for the development of the former Mere tank site off Portland Beach Road.

The proposal covers the second stage of redevelopment for the site after all of the fuel tanks were demolished.

The area will be used on a temporary basis during the 2012 Olympic Games - possibly for car parking and storage.

Then it is expected that units for business and marine-based firms will be built. The scheme includes concrete works and contaminated ground clearance as well as roads, pavements, drainage and phone, gas and electricity works.

A request to issue the tenders is due to go before tomorrow's meeting of the Weymouth and Portland management committee.

A report to members said the first stage of redevelopment has been completed with the demolition of the fuel tanks.

The proposed second stage of redevelopment will involve carrying out infrastructure work.

This will include the demolition and clearance of 3.75 hectares of ground bearing concrete slab and the remediation of contaminated ground identified from site investigations before, during and after the demolition of the tanks.

The second stage also includes the construction of 0.5 hectares of highway and pavement areas and 900 metres of drainage pipeline for foul and surface water with associated works. Finally, there will be the construction of 1.3km of telecom, gas and electricity services together with associated works.

A planning application for the basic infrastructure development proposals is expected to be submitted between now and December 2008.

The report says that it is anticipated that the contract award for the works will be made in February 2009.

The report adds that it is planned that the infrastructure development works will be completed by February 2010 in preparation for temporary use in advance of and during the 2012 Olympic games.

Commercial development of the site, which is about half a mile from Victoria Square, is expected to take place after the Games with business units a likely option, says the council.