COUNCILLORS have given the green light to plans to push forward with a new Charles Street scheme.
The West Dorset District Council executive committee has approved recommendations including allocating up to £520,000 to enable the preparation of feasibility studies, the development strategy and the marketing of the Charles Street site in Dorchester and other town centre locations with a potential for further retail development.
Cllr Alan Thacker said: “It is important that we move forward with Dorchester now. We need to get Dorchester back in the picture. There are a number of developments happening in the town and all of this will make it a good capital town.”
Other recommendations included commencing initial discussions with interested food retailers for the Charles Street site and to commence discussions with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the Trinity Street and Fairfield car park sites to allow a faster decision-making process and better assessment.
The soft market testing and the archaeological peer review of the site works presented in the report were commissioned under the direction of the member-led Charles Street Working Group, from GL Hearn and Dr Peter Wilson from Rarey Archaeological.
Cllr Tim Yarker described the developments as a “really important step” for the town.
He said: “I think the archaeological review is very informative and comprehensive. It gives us the confidence to move forward.
“It is interesting to understand the history of the site, it gives us some help on how to proceed with the development."
The archaeological peer review highlighted that "a smaller, less intrusive store at the Charles Street site is more likely to be achieved by a food retail store when compared with a comparison goods store. From a landowner perspective this would allow more targeted marketing, giving an optimum opportunity for delivery".
Cllr Peter Barrowcliff added: “With local government reorganisation in the limelight we need to get on with it.
"If we can make good progress on it now then I think that will be a good move before the reorganisation happens and we end up having to start from scratch."
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