WORK could start on demolishing remaining Weymouth harbourside buildings early in the new year.

Plans being made for the demolition of harbourside buildings say that the redevelopment of the site is ‘imminent.’

Dorset Council is proposing the removal of seven buildings, alongside and behind the Pavilion, as part of the quay regeneration scheme.

Demolition work is expected to start in mid-January and to continue in three phases over four months.

The list includes the former departure lounge, the arrivals hall and tunnel, the Condor rest rooms, the customs inspection hall and vehicle search building, the Port Authority office and the Customs kiosk.

An application, giving warning of the plans, says that all the site areas will be left flat and ready for any redevelopment.

Plans have been drawn up to deal with any asbestos found on the site which will be removed by a specialist licensed contractor.

The first phase of the demolition will involve only the departure hall which is adjacent to the Pavilion and is expected to take six weeks.

This will be followed by the arrivals hall and tunnel building and the port authority/police office towards the harbour entrance, which is expected to take four weeks. The third phase will see the removal of the Condor rest room, the customs hall next to it and the vehicle search shed and customs kiosk, all in the same area, expected to take five weeks.

The council say it hopes demolition work could start on January 13 and is expected to be completed by April 18.

Public comments on the proposals can be made until December 20.

Dorset Council say the demolition application refers to the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project, announced in 2019, not the wider Peninsula site. This redevelopment affects the harbourside land only.

The authority says that alternative options for the location of the Harbour Centre of Excellence are currently being explored.

n The Echo reported last month that due to financial pressures, the plug was pulled on the proposed Centre of Excellence. The centre, which would have been the highlight of the quay project, was envisaged to be a hub for coastal business and skills with facilities to support growth of the marine industry and education sector.

The council said at the time that due to financial pressures caused by Covid it planned to 'keep options open for other opportunities to develop the Peninsula and harbour'.