AROUND 50 employees are waiting to hear if they have a future in their jobs as a housing application goes before planners.

As reported in the Echo last year, developers are hoping to build on the site of Value House, Mandeville Road, Wyke Regis.

Proposals for 37 homes to be built on the site were submitted by landowners Abbey Manor in April and, while they are still under consideration, the Echo understands that the future of Value House looks uncertain.

A source told the Echo that stock is being withdrawn and that staff are preparing to close up within the next couple of weeks. A spokesman for the store said yesterday that it is now in a redundancy consultation period.

The spokesman said: “I can confirm that we entered a 30 day redundancy consultation period with our employees on August 8, as there is the realistic possibility that our store on Mandeville Road will close.

“A more certain picture of our future is anticipated very soon and we will provide further information once we have discussed any possible ramifications with our management and staff.

“We are currently running an end of season stock clearance sale as we now enter what would normally be a quiet trading period.

“No redundancies have been initiated as yet and we continue to trade as normal.”

A decision by West Dorset District Council planning committee is due to be reached in the coming weeks.

Architects Boon Brown Architects first revealed the plans during a presentation at a Chickerell council meeting in June 2015, where concerns were raised about job losses, impact on local services and traffic.

The proposal is for 37 new homes with garages, parking, open space and footpath links and designs show contemporary houses with flat roofs.

The properties, some of which are thought to be social housing, could also include rooftop gardens.

Improvements would be made at the junction of Mandeville Road and Camp Road.

The proposals have been met with a number of objection letters from residents. One writes: 'I am concerned the local infrastructure is insufficient to support the needs and expectations of 37 dwellings.'

Weymouth Civic Society has asked that a traffic management scheme is put in place before any development takes place.

A spokesman added: 'We have concerns that any permission for housing could lead to pressure for further development on nearby land, which could exacerbate traffic problems."