PLANS for a revamp of the Ferrybridge boatyard off the road between Portland and Wyke Regis have been refused.

It follows a refusal last year for changes to the Billy Winter’s restaurant and bar on the same site.

That application, had it succeeded, would have added an additional floor to the building. A planning appeal later supported the council’s refusal.

Dorset Council has now refused changes to buildings alongside the bar and eatery, which, it was claimed, would have improved the appearance of the area. The proposal requested permission for the removal of the timber-clad Crossfit gym, changing rooms and showers and adjoining office buildings and workshop.

The structures would have been replaced by a new gym, office building and boatyard workshop to the south west of the boatyard, a structure which would have been set lower to make it less intrusive than the current buildings, which the application papers described as ‘an eyesore.’

Dorset Echo: Existing buildings at the boatyardExisting buildings at the boatyard

The proposed changes had the backing of Portland Town Council and the Island and Royal Manor of Portland Court Leet which said that the removal of the mis-matched set of buildings and their replacement would be a “positive improvement,” although it sought assurances about the height of the new buildings.

Weymouth Civic Society had expressed similar concerns claiming the footprint of the new buildings would be four times the existing which would have, “an enormous impact on the character of the area.”

Eight letters of support had been sent to Dorset Council welcoming the jobs which would be created, the removal of the old buildings, and the fact that the site encourages physical activity.

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The application had argued that the changes would not make a significant impact on the area: “The proposed replacement building will be approximately 1.3m below the Portland Beach Road level, resulting in the new scheme to have a minimal disturbance to the Dorset coastal views,” said a supporting documents from consultants, Fisher & Associates.

But Dorset Council’s planning officers were not convinced by the arguments and have rejected the application giving six reasons for doing so including harm to the landscape, the biodiversity of the area and heritage coast, being outside the development boundary and in an area of flood risk.