COUNCILLORS are set to consider an application for a heritage centre in Castletown, put forward as part of plans to bring the area ‘up off its knees’.

In November last year the Echo revealed how Nemesis Properties were given the green light to build workshops, storage units and holiday flats on premises on Castletown Pier.

Further project plans were revealed to the Echo in July, which included a scuba diving tourist facility or ‘underwater curiosity park’, an American themed D-Day attraction, and a heritage centre.

Nemesis Properties is owned by Derek Luckhurst, owner of care provider AginCare. The provider recently spent nearly £2m to turn the Admiralty Buildings in Castletown into its new headquarters.

Mr Luckhurst said the aim of the project was to bring Castletown ‘off its knees’ and the heritage centre would be based inside the Admiralty Buildings.

A change of use application for the heritage centre, brought before the committee following requests from councillors, is now set to go before Weymouth and Portland Borough Council next Wednesday.

A report said the proposal ‘represents a contribution towards the regeneration of Castletown’ and would further contribute to the ‘creation of a livelier, more attractive part of the island’.

Mr Luckhurst, as the applicant, has asked for a five-year temporary approval on the change of use application so that the building can revert to business use ‘should the museum not attract public and community support.’ Mr Luckhurst said if and when the planning application is approved, trustees of the Weymouth and Portland museums will then be asked whether they can loan any artefacts to go on display at the centre.

Anyone with any environmentally friendly items for the underwater diving park should email derek.luckhurst@agincare.com