VITAL redevelopment plans for Weymouth Pavilion are facing another delay.

The scheme has already been dogged by huge rows over how the site should be developed.

Now developer Howard Holdings says it may not be able to submit a detailed planning application for the Pavilion until the autumn because ideas for redeveloping it have changed so much.

Councillors were told about the potential delay at their latest monthly information briefing when developer Howard Holdings talked over possible scheme designs.

The firm had planned to get a detailed application for the scheme in by the end of July but that now looks unlikely after recent council decisions cut the size of the marina from 350 craft to 150 and trimmed two floors off proposed apartment blocks from eight down to six.

These major changes meant there was still a great deal of work left to do before a planning application could be submitted, said a spokesman for Howard Holdings, who added that the timetable might have to be 'adjusted' to take this into account.

Project spokesman Coun Howard Legg said: "Members indicated that they would wish to see user group and public consultation and indeed an independent professional review of its contents prior to the council considering the hydrological report from Wallingford on whether the proposed marina would have an impact on the harbour and beach."

All this will increase the Pavilion workload and Weymouth and Portland chief executive Tom Grainger said today: "Howard Holdings always said they intended to submit a detailed planning application for the scheme by the end of July, but that is only two months ahead.

"Clearly the council has not yet seen the Wallingford report and would need to take a view on that."

He added that Howard Holdings needed to come forward with a scheme that was "financially viable".

Mr Grainger said: "That takes time and we now feel that it is likely to be early autumn before Howard Holdings is able to submit a detailed planning application for the Pavilion scheme."

Councillors were also given a briefing on the initial findings from consultants examining the business case for a World Heritage Coast Centre in the redevelopment.

Mr Grainger said: "Initial findings suggest that provided an investment can be found from bodies such as the South West Regional Development Agency to meet the set up costs of the of displays then there is every reason to believe that a Centre could be run on the Pavilion site without subsidy from Weymouth and Portland taxpayers.

"Councillors still have to examine the proposal in detail which will be done in public at the council's policy committee meeting on June 18."