An iconic Weymouth quayside building could be given a new lease of life in a move that will create new jobs and enhance the area.

Developer DJ Property has applied to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to transform the former Sharky's play centre on Custom House Quay.

The vision includes a top-quality restaurant, with five warehouse-style apartments on the upper floors, each with an internal parking space at the rear of the ground floor.

The proposed scheme adopts the building’s original name of ‘Deheers Warehouse’ and chief executive of DJ Property, Mickey Jones, is hoping to return the building, a former Victorian grain warehouse, to its former glory.

The building has been vacant since February 2017, when it closed as a play centre and café. It closed due to seasonal business proving unsustainable due to a number of economic factors, notably increased local parking charges, an increase in business rates and escalating insurance costs.

Mr Jones believes future sustainability and prosperity of the harbourside and waterfront areas of the town centre depend on regeneration projects, and larger leisure activity uses need to be located in more accessible parts on sites where the development and maintenance costs can ensure they remain financially viable.

Mr Jones said: “This is one of the most handsome buildings on the harbourside. Successful delivery of this project will be a great boost to the town and it gives me great pride to return one of Weymouth’s best buildings to its former glory."

The new project aims to provide employment and supply chain opportunities and enhance the area of the harbourside.

Mr Jones added that the substantial investment in the Deheers project represents an opportunity for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to secure the future of a heritage asset and enable the delivery of new homes and a restaurant unit as part of a 'sensitive, high-quality and viable conversion'.

He said: "The application, if approved, will deliver a real boost to the harbourside community and help the council in its aim to regenerate the locality and attract more investment."

The Deheers project aims to build on the recent successful delivery of the DJ Property's Oxford Court, Link Park, Egdon Hall and Zone Fitness.

The full planning and listed building applications have now been acknowledged by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and are pending registration before consultation commences.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the project can contact Mickey Jones via his website, djproperty.com