TOMORROW is decision day on plans for a major development on the New Look site in Weymouth.
The company wants to build a new headquarters as part of a scheme in Mercery Road that could support 3,300 jobs.
The chain's master plan includes a new headquarters building for its 500 staff, a hotel, a new fire station, a medical centre and ambulance headquarters.
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Industrial units, retail warehousing and a managed business centre are also proposed in the scheme.
Plans are due to go before tomorrow's meeting of Weymouth and Portland's Borough Council planning and traffic committee.
Councillors are being recommended in a report to grant outline planning permission for the scheme subject to more than two dozen conditions.
These include a clause relating to a £420,000 contribution by New Look to amenities.
This consists of £140,000 towards the Weymouth relief road, £100,000 towards road, crossing and junction improvements, £105,000 towards an enhanced cycle path and £75,000 towards a hydrological study.
Other conditions include the transfer of land owned by New Look at no cost to enable part of the relief road to be built.
New Look's proposal includes a commitment to retain its existing distribution centre for three years once work starts although it would be placed on the market.
If it was not sold, re-let or being occupied for 'commercial purposes' within that time then it would be demolished to make way for 'alternative employment development'.
The company says it is 'keen to stay in Weymouth', specifically to retain its existing experienced office workforce if possible.
New Look's latest scheme for the site follows similar 2005 plans which were aborted in the face of heavy objections by planners and key groups such as the South West Regional Development Agency and Natural England.
Their concerns included potential loss of employment land and a possible impact on protected species.
Councillors will be told that Natural England has welcomed a hydrological study for Lodmoor site of special scientific interest and on this basis has no objection to the plans.
Natural Heritage and the Environment Agency also raise no objection subject to conditions ranging from drainage and pollution to the protection of important species such as Cetti's warblers.
The regional development agency says it has been working closely with New Look and has made 'significant progress' to the extent it now supports the proposals subject to various points.
These include employment land provision and retail elements not competing with the town centre and Osprey Quay.
Another boost comes from the South West Regional Assembly which also backs the scheme.
It says that it initially had fears that retail proposals represented 'edge of town development' which could threaten the vitality and viability of Weymouth town centre but that 'exceptional circumstances' exist to show they should support the scheme in principle.
These include evidence that once the site is fully redeveloped it could support more than 2,000 full-time jobs with another 1,300 extra jobs created in the travel to work area, says the assembly.
Dear me, surely a very imaginative leisure facility here with restaurants,and an iceskating rink and a pool, with the pretty view in the background would have come up trumps.An area to be pretty proud of, and then this would keep all parties happy, keep the pressure off the town centre for rainy days, probably a cinema complex incorporated into it(with out a leaky roof!!)
Dear me, surely a very imaginative leisure facility here with restaurants,and an iceskating rink and a pool, with the pretty view in the background would have come up trumps.An area to be pretty proud of, and then this would keep all parties happy, keep the pressure off the town centre for rainy days, probably a cinema complex incorporated into it(with out a leaky roof!!)
Again I hear of more decisions done by the council which the public find unbelieveable. I agree with maggawags that a leisure facility, ice skating rink and a pool would be good especially due to the summer we have had. It would also give youngest something more to do then just hanging around the town centre.
Again I hear of more decisions done by the council which the public find unbelieveable. I agree with maggawags that a leisure facility, ice skating rink and a pool would be good especially due to the summer we have had. It would also give youngest something more to do then just hanging around the town centre.
Well Well ANOTHER hotel.One at Southwell Park,One at Brewers Quay and now one at the New Look site.And who is going to fill all these hotel beds? theres not much to come to Weymouth for these days unless the sun shines and can families really afford hotels? Remember folks the games in 2012 only last a few weeks.
Well Well ANOTHER hotel.One at Southwell Park,One at Brewers Quay and now one at the New Look site.And who is going to fill all these hotel beds? theres not much to come to Weymouth for these days unless the sun shines and can families really afford hotels? Remember folks the games in 2012 only last a few weeks.
Posted by: chris edwards, weymouth on 4:05pm Tue 21 Aug 07
why not put the council offices, the dhss,law courts fire station, housing and the council depot in there then all round the harbour could be developed. Hotel confrence center ice ring ect, ect.
why not put the council offices, the dhss,law courts fire station, housing and the council depot in there then all round the harbour could be developed. Hotel confrence center ice ring ect, ect.
Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day!
Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day!
Posted by: Oliver, Weymouth on 7:39pm Tue 21 Aug 07
I agree with 'me' that the jobs are more important, and New Look are doing what they want (you can't moan at the council). I would like an ice rink in town though (the nearest indoor one being in Fareham or Bristol), and I agree that the council offices, law courts, fire station and Job centre could be moved away from the harbour. We could then have more homes and amenities that would suit the harbourside there instead. That doesn't mean that the New Look site should provide this though - they do what they want on their land.
I agree with 'me' that the jobs are more important, and New Look are doing what they want (you can't moan at the council). I would like an ice rink in town though (the nearest indoor one being in Fareham or Bristol), and I agree that the council offices, law courts, fire station and Job centre could be moved away from the harbour. We could then have more homes and amenities that would suit the harbourside there instead. That doesn't mean that the New Look site should provide this though - they do what they want on their land.
[quote][bold]Me[/bold] wrote:
Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day! [/quote] I think that your idea that NewLook own the land so they can do what they like with it is very naive,yes they own the land but they can't do what they like with it (i bet they wish they could)but apart from our stupid council there are many other interested parties. As for the 3,300 jobs that has to be a utopian figure that may or may not be reached. The saddest part i think of all this is that NewLook are having to pay towards the relief road that[italic] might[/italic] have kept them in Weymouth.This council said that Wellworthy's site was for employment but what is there now & the same thing happend across the road. People say that Weymouth's best asset is our beach pity our council have got there head buried in it.
Me wrote:
Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day!
I think that your idea that NewLook own the land so they can do what they like with it is very naive,yes they own the land but they can't do what they like with it (i bet they wish they could)but apart from our stupid council there are many other interested parties. As for the 3,300 jobs that has to be a utopian figure that may or may not be reached. The saddest part i think of all this is that NewLook are having to pay towards the relief road that might have kept them in Weymouth.This council said that Wellworthy's site was for employment but what is there now & the same thing happend across the road. People say that Weymouth's best asset is our beach pity our council have got there head buried in it.
If I was new Look I'd be looking to get as much from the site as possible. If the council doesnt play by the rules some official in London or Bristol will decide. Looks like its better than last time new look tried to get permission, so perhaps the councils done ok with this. Agree about getting rid of the council offices, but only if it saves us taxpayers money. It looks to me if the fire stations going to new look site anyway. Cant see the DSS office going though. Perhaps british gas or whoever owns it, be persuaded to get rid of their eyesore.
If I was new Look I'd be looking to get as much from the site as possible. If the council doesnt play by the rules some official in London or Bristol will decide. Looks like its better than last time new look tried to get permission, so perhaps the councils done ok with this. Agree about getting rid of the council offices, but only if it saves us taxpayers money. It looks to me if the fire stations going to new look site anyway. Cant see the DSS office going though. Perhaps british gas or whoever owns it, be persuaded to get rid of their eyesore.
This developement sounds like a right old dogs dinner.
Total lack of vision, hotch potch of elderly ideas, another wart on the face of Weymouth, seen from all directions. Please ,please consult deeply over this. This town needs uplifting from its outer boundaries,no evidence of that is there?
This developement sounds like a right old dogs dinner.
Total lack of vision, hotch potch of elderly ideas, another wart on the face of Weymouth, seen from all directions. Please ,please consult deeply over this. This town needs uplifting from its outer boundaries,no evidence of that is there?
[quote][bold]maggawags[/bold] wrote:
This developement sounds like a right old dogs dinner. Total lack of vision, hotch potch of elderly ideas, another wart on the face of Weymouth, seen from all directions. Please ,please consult deeply over this. This town needs uplifting from its outer boundaries,no evidence of that is there?[/quote] Have you seen the detailed plans?
The idea of siting a new Fire Station and Ambulance Station in this area seems a very logical decision in my opinion. Plus it also free's up the existing fire station site on North Quay - which is also a good thing eh?
maggawags wrote:
This developement sounds like a right old dogs dinner. Total lack of vision, hotch potch of elderly ideas, another wart on the face of Weymouth, seen from all directions. Please ,please consult deeply over this. This town needs uplifting from its outer boundaries,no evidence of that is there?
Have you seen the detailed plans?
The idea of siting a new Fire Station and Ambulance Station in this area seems a very logical decision in my opinion. Plus it also free's up the existing fire station site on North Quay - which is also a good thing eh?
[quote][bold]Me[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]maggawags[/bold] wrote: This developement sounds like a right old dogs dinner. Total lack of vision, hotch potch of elderly ideas, another wart on the face of Weymouth, seen from all directions. Please ,please consult deeply over this. This town needs uplifting from its outer boundaries,no evidence of that is there?[/quote] Have you seen the detailed plans? The idea of siting a new Fire Station and Ambulance Station in this area seems a very logical decision in my opinion. Plus it also free's up the existing fire station site on North Quay - which is also a good thing eh? [/quote] Yep , I have seen them, but hotel, industrial and emergency services,all in one area, when a nice rainy day facility , high quality resource to give an alternative to the quay and beaches would have been just the ticket as they say! thanks for that anyway!
Me wrote:
maggawags wrote: This developement sounds like a right old dogs dinner. Total lack of vision, hotch potch of elderly ideas, another wart on the face of Weymouth, seen from all directions. Please ,please consult deeply over this. This town needs uplifting from its outer boundaries,no evidence of that is there?
Have you seen the detailed plans? The idea of siting a new Fire Station and Ambulance Station in this area seems a very logical decision in my opinion. Plus it also free's up the existing fire station site on North Quay - which is also a good thing eh?
Yep , I have seen them, but hotel, industrial and emergency services,all in one area, when a nice rainy day facility , high quality resource to give an alternative to the quay and beaches would have been just the ticket as they say! thanks for that anyway!
Posted by: Des Pondent, Weymouth on 1:40pm Wed 22 Aug 07
Having the emergency services close to the new road must be a good thing, but can you imagine the fire enging having to queue to get out if another situation like the B&Q complex was allowed to exist?
Careful planning is required here.
Having the emergency services close to the new road must be a good thing, but can you imagine the fire enging having to queue to get out if another situation like the B&Q complex was allowed to exist?
[quote][bold]Me[/bold] wrote:
Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day! [/quote] Another thought, on a later note [bold]you[/bold] wrote about the freeing up of the N Quay fire station, but what will they put there in it's place? I hope not more homes, unless you know different? I do agree proper jobs that have substance are needed everywhere. Tourism related jobs , however need not necessarily be low skill/wage jobs/These people surely are the front face of any tourist resort, and so should there fore wear their smile with pride !!
Me wrote:
Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day!
Another thought, on a later note you wrote about the freeing up of the N Quay fire station, but what will they put there in it's place? I hope not more homes, unless you know different? I do agree proper jobs that have substance are needed everywhere. Tourism related jobs , however need not necessarily be low skill/wage jobs/These people surely are the front face of any tourist resort, and so should there fore wear their smile with pride !!
[quote][bold]maggawags[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Me[/bold] wrote: Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day! [/quote] Another thought, on a later note [bold]you[/bold] wrote about the freeing up of the N Quay fire station, but what will they put there in it's place? I hope not more homes, unless you know different? I do agree proper jobs that have substance are needed everywhere. Tourism related jobs , however need not necessarily be low skill/wage jobs/These people surely are the front face of any tourist resort, and so should there fore wear their smile with pride !![/quote] A financial services building or good quality hotel would be nice. But I suspect it will be housing - mind you if it was low cost housing for locals I would not complain.
maggawags wrote:
Me wrote: Firstly the land belongs to New Look - so they can do what they want with it, and secondly 3,300 decent jobs could be created directly or indirectly through this development. I would rather have that than tourism related, low wage, low skill rubbish any day!
Another thought, on a later note you wrote about the freeing up of the N Quay fire station, but what will they put there in it's place? I hope not more homes, unless you know different? I do agree proper jobs that have substance are needed everywhere. Tourism related jobs , however need not necessarily be low skill/wage jobs/These people surely are the front face of any tourist resort, and so should there fore wear their smile with pride !!
A financial services building or good quality hotel would be nice. But I suspect it will be housing - mind you if it was low cost housing for locals I would not complain.
Whilst some people might think it is a good idea to relocate the fire station do you also know that it is being down sized and 10 retained firefighters and 4 wholetime firefighters will be made redundant and there will be one less fire engine for an expanding town. Look what happened in New Quay over the week end. they had to borrow fire engines from another county.
Whilst some people might think it is a good idea to relocate the fire station do you also know that it is being down sized and 10 retained firefighters and 4 wholetime firefighters will be made redundant and there will be one less fire engine for an expanding town. Look what happened in New Quay over the week end. they had to borrow fire engines from another county.
Posted by: maggawags, quite remote on 9:24pm Wed 22 Aug 07
[quote][bold]benny[/bold] wrote:
Whilst some people might think it is a good idea to relocate the fire station do you also know that it is being down sized and 10 retained firefighters and 4 wholetime firefighters will be made redundant and there will be one less fire engine for an expanding town. Look what happened in New Quay over the week end. they had to borrow fire engines from another county.[/quote] I believe there is a county wide problem with recruiting firefighters, but why are they down sizing Weymouth? The fright recently in a village near here was the loss of three cottages/we are a county full of thatches and hay barns, and heathland. so what goes on?
benny wrote:
Whilst some people might think it is a good idea to relocate the fire station do you also know that it is being down sized and 10 retained firefighters and 4 wholetime firefighters will be made redundant and there will be one less fire engine for an expanding town. Look what happened in New Quay over the week end. they had to borrow fire engines from another county.
I believe there is a county wide problem with recruiting firefighters, but why are they down sizing Weymouth? The fright recently in a village near here was the loss of three cottages/we are a county full of thatches and hay barns, and heathland. so what goes on?
[quote][bold]benny[/bold] wrote:
Whilst some people might think it is a good idea to relocate the fire station do you also know that it is being down sized and 10 retained firefighters and 4 wholetime firefighters will be made redundant and there will be one less fire engine for an expanding town. Look what happened in New Quay over the week end. they had to borrow fire engines from another county.[/quote] Well if that is true it is scandalous and ought to be opposed most vehemently!
benny wrote:
Whilst some people might think it is a good idea to relocate the fire station do you also know that it is being down sized and 10 retained firefighters and 4 wholetime firefighters will be made redundant and there will be one less fire engine for an expanding town. Look what happened in New Quay over the week end. they had to borrow fire engines from another county.
Well if that is true it is scandalous and ought to be opposed most vehemently!
[quote][bold]Me[/bold] wrote:
Permission given http://news.bbc.co.u k/1/hi/england/dorse t/6959344.stm[/quote] The full picture emerges!!
Very interesting.
All signed and done and dusted I suppose!!
Me wrote:
Permission given http://news.bbc.co.u k/1/hi/england/dorse t/6959344.stm
The full picture emerges!!
Very interesting.
All signed and done and dusted I suppose!!
Will any of these changes make a significant difference, from what I have seen on the Beeb site, not alot!!
Just shifting the North quay stuff north and creating a slot for another great big head ache will ensure a flow of letters miles deep again , of that I am sure!! Wait and see ,not I told you so!!
Will any of these changes make a significant difference, from what I have seen on the Beeb site, not alot!!
Just shifting the North quay stuff north and creating a slot for another great big head ache will ensure a flow of letters miles deep again , of that I am sure!! Wait and see ,not I told you so!!
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