PROPOSALS for demolishing Weymouth's North Quay building have been called into question amid claims the move 'flies in the face' of national guidelines.

Dorset Council commissioned a firm to compare the carbon impact of redeveloping the existing office building into homes, versus knocking it down and starting from scratch.

The council has opted for the latter and has already begun preparatory works for the demolition.

But the carbon report should NOT form the basis of a decision - according to its authors - because the council did not provide them with sufficient information.

A vital part of the construction process - the foundations of the building - has not been included in the analysis.

Consultancy firm Archetype admits having to turn to the internet to search for details due to 'very limited information' being provided by the council.

 

The report states: "It should be noted that this study represents a high-level analysis and outputs are strictly for comparison purposes only. Foundations, landscaping and external works have not been included in the analysis."

It goes on to recommend that further assessment is carried out before any decision is made.

The Archetype study is important to the future of what happens to North Quay, because the council has used the study to justify its plans to demolish the site and start from scratch.

It comes after a planning application for a similar design to the current proposal was rejected in 2019 after the planning committee agreed that flattening one building in order to build another in its place, instead of utilising the existing structure, is not a carbon-efficient way to create new homes – citing a national planning policy to convert older buildings, where possible.

Councillors said the authority had signed up to climate emergency measures and should act according to those principles.

But, more recently, the council has argued that the carbon footprint is balanced out because the proposed design is bigger than the current office building.

 

Dorset Council cabinet member Cllr Tony Ferrari said "the persuasive argument environmentally" is that demolishing will allow more homes to be built at the North Quay site and would help meet Government housing targets.

Local campaigner Jason West accused the council of "insulting the intelligence of local people".

"It beggars belief why the foundations were not included and is an insult to the intelligence of locals," he said.

"The outcome of the analysis is completely wrong because they omitted the foundations for the existing building, and any foundations for a new build on the site.

"If you knock it down you will need to excavate the existing foundations and pour new concrete foundations. So that's the encapsulated carbon in two foundations. It flies in the face of their climate emergency policy.

Cllr Tony Ferrari, portfolio holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, said: "Throughout the North Quay project Dorset Council has actively engaged with the public about the possible use of the site. Recently, new comments have come forward and we are seeking advice from specialists about any implications that may emerge.

"This will all be considered in the formulation of the planning applications that will be brought forward for the site, which will, of course, include the advice we have received. Residents can then formally comment on the proposals and these public comments will be considered by the Planning Committee when the application is adjudicated."