RESIDENTS remained cautiously optimistic over fresh multi-million plans to regenerate Weymouth’s Brewers Quay.

Plans to redevelop the attraction were on show at Weymouth Museum yesterday afternoon. Developers displayed an application that will bring flats, shops and restaurants to the area.

As part of the redevelopment, there would be a permanent home for the Weymouth Museum and additional space for indoor tourist and cultural attractions.

Homes are also being considered to replace Newtons Road car park, which sits behind the site. This would help finance the Brewers Quay redevelopment.

Whilst this exists as a separate application, Brewers Quay Investments LLP has said one application cannot work without the other.

Residents who live near the car park previously told the Echo they would be against new housing on the site.

Some also raised concerns where cruise ship passengers would be able to drop off passengers from coaches.

The scheme to redevelop the car park into housing has been named Brewery Reach.

It would include six three-bed town houses and 12 two-bed apartments with dedicated parking.

Richard Strode, a partner at Brewers Quay Investments LLP said: “There have been a few concerns which would you would expect but on the whole I would say 75 per cent of people have been supportive. There have been some concerns over the loss of the coach drop off place but we are looking into other possible solutions for that.”

Brewers Quay has been the subject of development plans in the past. A £15m proposal, which included plans for a hotel, was submitted in 2011 but failed to progress.

The building remained closed between February 2011 and March 2013. It reopened following the success of pop-up shops during the Olympics.

It currently houses the Brewers Quay Emporium and Italian restaurant Il Porto, among other businesses.

Mr Strode added: “The building by itself is a very difficult investment. When people see what state it’s in they understand the predicament of the building.

“Hopefully this is the solution that will get some much needed investment.”

A planning application is expected to be submitted this autumn.

Residents have their say and help shape plan for the borough’s future

RESIDENTS in Weymouth have been helping shape a ‘masterplan’ for the town centre.

Their feedback will help Weymouth and Portland Borough Council develop the area over the next 10 years.

The council held pop-up events on Thursday and Friday on the Esplanade.

Residents, visitors, and people who work in the town were asked to identify their three main priorities using stickers.

Priorities were listed under categories that included: retail and economy, land use and community, environment and built heritage, and transport and movement.

Residents were keen for the plan to recognise the importance of summer holiday trade, and think of ways to make the town more family friendly in the evenings.

Work on preparing planning guidance for the town will be carried out in four stages.

This stage is about looking at priorities identified by previous studies, forming the basis of the key themes.

The next stage will be looking defining a vision for the town centre.

Council spokesman for economic regeneration Ray Nowak said the events had produced a fair spread of comments.

He said: “We had quite a positive response. We have had a number of questions.

“It’s had a reasonable response but I think there will be more footfall and more people participating, which is what we want.”

The next pop-up events will take place on August 26 and August 27 in New Bond Street, outside Debenhams.