Anger over derelict Weymouth North Quay offices

Meanwhile taxpayers continue to foot the bill for the former North Quay office block to stand empty amid the cost of living crisis - costing more than £102,000 per year.

Proposals for a luxury development - a pastiche of the old High Street that once stood on the site - were unveiled by landowner Dorset Council in January 2021, with the authority pledging to submit a planning application last summer.

The council subsequently received £943,255 of central government funding towards the cost of submitting a planning application for demolition - but, more than a year later, the site remains derelict. It has now emerged that the authority cannot access the money yet until conditions relating to the sale or development of the site have been met.

'Disgrace!'

Weymouth resident John Cummins described the former WPBC headquarters as "a big old lump" and a waste of space.

"We're in the middle of a housing crisis," he told the Echo when we visited the dilapidated site this week.

"The building is a complete wreck - it's a disgrace really, given the level of homelessness. If possible it should be used for affordable homes. It's a similar situation to the burnt-out church in the middle of town that's been derelict for 20 years. There needs to be swift action."

Ironic placement of a sign pointing towards the dilapidated block (Image: Ellie Maslin/Newsquest) (Image: Ellie Maslin, Newsquest)

Another man, David Allen, said: "It is a crying shame that the building is still empty - it's disgusting how much it's costing the public purse at a time when the cost of living is going up.

"I'd like to see it used as a community drop-in centre, or just a warm space for people to come to over the winter - if the council hadn't let it fall into such a bad state it could be hired out to offset the cost."

Back in 2020 we revealed how the building was costing more than £102,000 per year, with current figures likely to be higher due to increasing break-ins.

Demolition 'goes against best practice'

The authority has now said it plans to submit a planning application to demolish the building in the new year. It comes after a previous demolition and redevelopment plan was refused planning permission due to environmental concerns over carbon efficiency.

A firm commissioned to carry out a new carbon efficiency report said not enough information was provided to give a definitive answer.

The cost of demolishing and clearing the site has been estimated at £3 million.

The former WPBC offices at Weymouth's North Quay have been targeted by vandals (Images: Ellie Maslin/Newsquest) (Image: Ellie Maslin, Newsquest)

Jason West, who runs the Weyforward group, wants to see the building repurposed. 

He said: "Cosmetically it is a real shame to see the exterior of the building in disrepair - but the structure and foundations will still be solid. So it still could and should be retrofitted if Dorset Council is serious about climate change mitigation."

However another Weymouth resident we spoke to at the site, Paul, called for prompt action to demolish the "eyesore" building: "Every time we walk past it's decaying further - the sooner it's knocked down, the better," he said. 

Every time you walk past it's decaying further: Residents call for action over the former North Quay offices in Weymouth (Image: Ellie Maslin/Newsquest) (Image: Echo photographer)

"They did a lot of destruction in the 1960's," added Norma, also from Weymouth, referring to the demolition of the old High Street to make way for the building. "They gave us an eyesore and now they've left us with this."

Another resident, Robert Palmer, said: "It's appalling that a prime site like this has been allowed to rot - when are we going to see action?"

• Read more: Council vows North Quay building WILL be demolished

North Quay over the years

The current redevelopment design, produced by Poundbury architect Ben Pentreath, was originally given outline planning permission in 2014 ahead of the former Weymouth & Portland Borough Council selling the site.

• Read more: The changing face of North Quay in Weymouth

There was no requirement on the buyer to use this plan – and in fact the borough council selected Acorn South which had planned to convert the offices into 'marina view' apartments - rather them knock them down and build something new.

However, in 2017, WPBC later rejected those plans, saying it had "lost confidence" in the Acorn South scheme.

The proposal is designed to reflect the history of the site and former old High Street (Image: Dorset Council) (Image: Dorset Council)

In 2019 a fresh proposal was submitted for Magna Housing to redevelop the site into a mix of homes for older people, shared ownership homes, small shops, a cafe and a limited amount of parking - but in a surprise move, the Dorset Council application was thrown out by the council’s area planning committee – citing a national planning policy to convert, rather than demolish, older buildings where possible.

At the time, several councillors said that the authority had signed up to climate emergency measures and should act according to those principles.

An archaeological dig at the site in April 2021 revealed the remains of a medieval house, thought to have been built between the 12th and 15th centuries.

The stone wall of a building has been unearthed at North Quay Picture: Context One (Image: Context One)

What has Dorset Council said about latest plans for North Quay?

In a new statement, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for economic growth, assets and property with responsibility for the site, cllr Tony Ferrari, said: "We intend to submit an updated planning application for demolition of North Quay in the new year.

"In preparation for this we are undertaking some technical appraisal work with our appointed consultants and the application is being drawn up. It is still the council's aim to bring this key regeneration site back in to active use in the town and we must follow the same planning process as everyone else.

“As Dorset Council is both the landowner and the planning authority, we cannot comment any further on the application so as not to pre-determine the outcome. Once an application has been submitted, local people will have a chance to comment on it in the usual way.

There has been a spate of vandalism at the North Quay building (Image: Ellie Maslin/Newsquest) (Image: Ellie Maslin, Newsquest)

"The Brownfield Release Fund money awarded last year to help fund the demolition of North Quay is subject to conditions relating to the sale or development of the site, and so are not yet available to the council.

"The former Weymouth Bowl site was acquired for development along with the North Quay site and it is still our intention to see the two sites developed together.

"Security for North Quay is sub-contracted to a local firm which regularly monitors the building and have secured it since the recent break in.”