THE North Quay council building is to be demolished and redeveloped in to around 72 dwellings that will 'enhance' Weymouth's harbour.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's planning and traffic committee approved the outline planning application for the redevelopment of the offices.

The council is set to transfer to its new premises in Commercial Road later this year after members voted to sell the building.

Councillors were shown illustrative material to demonstrate how the floorspace of North Quay could be reconfigured.

The layout is predicted on re-establishing the line of the Old High Street that ran through the site before it was cleared in the late 1960s for the development of the council offices.

The re-establishment of this route effectively divides the site in two.

The development will extend over the existing highway, narrowing North Quay by eliminating the existing bus lane.

Cllr Mike Byatt said: "This application will enhance the current state of the area.

"It will demonstrate that this council has vision and ambition for the future of Weymouth and Portland."

Cllr Pamela Nixon said: "I think this is an excellent opportunity and as soon as this building is evacuated we should move on with it as quickly as possible."

The proposed 72 dwellings will be provided in a total of 18 individual buildings: seven townhouses, nine blocks of flats and two flats-over-garages with 24 of the units are proposed to be affordable.

Cllr Sandy West said: "This is a once in a lifetime chance to create something fantastic.

"We really have to look at something that is futuristic.

"It's a very precious part of the town and it has to be done right.

"This building is horrendous and it has to go."

However, Cllr Christine James said she felt 'extremely saddened' that elected members had no say on how the site should look and said she found the design 'boring'.

Chair of the meeting, Cllr Kate Wheller, said: "I do have a concern about the loss of parking.

"It concerns me that there will be a lot of parking needed for the church and it it quite a walk to the town centre parking.

"But other than that I whole heartedly support this concept."

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