Building work on a new multi-million-pound care village in Weymouth is expected to start within six months.

Long running plans to turn the former QinetiQ site at Newton’s Cove into a supported living complex have been waylaid because of planning conditions.

After unveiling plans for the state-of-the-art village in 2013, New Care Horizons submitted its planning application to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in 2015.

It was initially hoped construction would begin in March last year, however the developers have been delayed due to numerous planning requirements.

Elspie Munro-Price, company director at Red House Estate Agents, said: “There were 30 planning conditions which the developers have had to adhere to before they begin to dig.

"A lot of the buildings have been of historic interest so they have all needed to be photographed and documented.

"The developers have just completed and are hoping to break ground towards the end of this year, beginning of next.

"From when they start to break ground the development will take about three or four years.”

Plans for the Pinnacle Care and Retirement Village include 195 supported living apartments, a 60-bed care home and 34 respite hotel suites with staff on hand 24 hours a day.

The village, which is predominately for the over 55s, will also feature an IT suite, a library, a choice of restaurants, a shop, a hairdresser, and a bowling green. Residents will also have the privilege of a new promenade and a private beach with unrivalled views over Portland Harbour.

Plans for the former MoD site were amended following two public consultations which saw more than 1000 residents give feedback on the initial designs.

Mrs Munro-Price said: “What the developers are trying to achieve is for vulnerable people to continue to live independently.

“That may just mean they need someone to do their washing for them, or do their shopping, but it hasn’t been designed for young families it is predominantly for people with care needs.”

When finished the waterside development is expected to employ 265 permanent staff across different areas of expertise along with additional jobs for locals during the construction phase.

Red House said they have had a considerable amount of interest in the site and have sold around 25 per cent of the properties despite not a single brick having been laid. Prices in the new complex start from £200,000 for a one bed apartment without a sea view while larger apartments cost upwards of £500,000.