A new hub for a county water operator is set to open in Dorchester under new plans.

Wessex Water has unveiled plans to build a new a new base for Wessex Water’s engineering, construction and operations teams as well as providing a central location for storage of vehicles and stock.

The new facility at Loud Mill Industrial Estate in Dorchester on a site adjacent to the Dorchester Sewage Treatment Works on St Georges Road.

It will also consolidate several depots from around the Wessex Water region.

The new facility will also include the provision of office space, stores, a wheel-wash bay and vehicle parking.

It comes at a time that Wessex Water is due to invest around £260 million over the next financial year on schemes that will safeguard and improve water and sewerage services, including completion of our vast new water supply grid.

A pre-application consultation was carried out with West Dorset District Council and no major issues were raised following this consultation.

Within the planning report, Wessex Water said that the proposed development will not have a significant effect on the local environment and any potential temporary impact on the natural environment due to the construction of the new depot will be adequately mitigated by tree planting and landscaping.

The planning report added: “A Bio-diversity mitigation plan (BMP) will be prepared and agreed with Dorset County Council Natural Environment Team as the proposed works exceed 0.1 ha.

“The BMP will provide details of mitigation and compensatory measures to offset the impacts to biodiversity due to the proposed works.”

“Currently, the proposed development area is mainly comprised of bare earth, dense scrub and some tall ruderal vegetation, generally of low conservation interest. Surveys for bats and reptiles will be undertaken along with checks for the presence of Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed.”

A full planning application is expected to be submitted in due course.