MORE details have emerged about the possible future vision of Weymouth harbourside.

As the sale of former Weymouth and Portland Borough Council offices North Quay progresses, the Dorset Echo can reveal that plans for the redevelopment of the site could see part of the original building retained.

The building has been sold for £4.5m to developers, understood to be Acorn South, on an unconditional basis.

Cllr Ian Bruce said he has spoken to council officers who told him the developers' plans for the site have 'a real wow factor'.

He added: "Part of their probable design is to utilise the existing building as part of the development. It will be completely redesigned and certainly isn't going to look like what it is at the moment.

"The officer dealing with all of this has seen the designs and he said they are absolutely stunning. He said there's a real wow factor.

"My understanding is that they will be primarily luxury flats - well not luxury, that's not the right word. They will be homes for people.

"And underneath there will be retail and office space."

But not everyone is happy with the idea of future development retaining part of the North Quay building.

Mark Vine, spokesman for campaign group Save Old Weymouth and Portland, said knocking down the building is a 'vital opportunity' to carry out excavation work in the area.

"The county archaeologist has recommended a full archaeological excavation is carried out. It's literally our last chance to discover more about the origins of Weymouth."

Mr Vine added that evidence from Iron Age settlers could be found at the site, when the area may have been a beach or cliffs - as well as medieval foundations and new findings from the Civil War and Crabchurch Conspiracy eras.

The concept of retaining part of the North Quay building has also caused concern among residents.

Tony Mason, from Weymouth, said: "I have continued to canvas the opinions of friends and acquaintances, all but two of whom confirmed that they were under the impression that the offices were to be raised to the ground with a splendid town enhancing development put in place."

The sale has not yet been completed and any plans will need to be approved by the borough council's planning committee before going ahead.

The Acorn South bid was not the highest offer.

Another developer, understood to be McCarthy and Stone, offered £6.1m for the building, but this was conditional on them being granted planning permission to turn it in to a residential home.

Cllr Bruce said: "As far as the taxpayer is concerned we have a judiciary duty to get the best value. If you sell something subject to planning permission being granted, we have almost got a gun to our head when it comes to granting permission for whatever they [the developers] want."

"The successful bid was unconditional and this means that anything that goes to planning committee can be discussed and decided then."

The borough council has now moved out of North Quay and into offices at the Mulberry Centre on Commercial Road, which were officially opened last week.

Parking services are still using the North Quay building, a spokesman confirmed.

The spokesman added: "The sale of the North Quay site is progressing well. The legal work between the council and the purchaser is ongoing, and both parties are working to exchange contracts as soon as possible."