Dorset Council has responded to Weymouth being overlooked for £1 billion government funding for 'left behind towns'.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities recently awarded 55 towns across the UK £20 million over 10 years to help regenerate their local communities.

Despite Weymouth being in desperate need of regeneration itself, the town was left off the list that was calculated using the government's ‘Levelling Up Needs Index’.

This considered things such as skills, pay productivity and productivity and was used alongside the Index of Multiple Deprivation, meaning councils were not able to bid for the fund.

READ: Dismay and sadness as Weymouth left out of £1 billion fund for 'left behind towns'

Cllr Simon Gibson, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for levelling up, said: “We work closely with the town council, partner organisations, schools, colleges and businesses to attract inward investment, support new businesses, improve transport and essential digital infrastructure across the town.

“In January 2023, Dorset Council secured a £19.5 million Levelling Up Fund award for Weymouth to regenerate the town’s Waterside Economy. This ambitious programme of work is underway at North Quay to excavate the site for archaeological finds, ahead of the building being demolished next spring.

"Planning and development work is also in progress at the other two sites central to the bid – the peninsula and the town centre. “

The £19.5 million already awarded to the council is being used to repair harbour walls at Weymouth peninsula and at North Quay, attract private investment to the town, and bring forward work to Weymouth's harbour walls by 10 years.

It will also be used to enable Dorset Council to buy more land within the town centre for development opportunities.

A £3.79 million grant through the Coastal Communities Fund was also awarded to Weymouth in 2019 to regenerate the inner harbour by constructing a 'centre of excellence' for business and enterprise.

Work was paused on this project due to the pandemic, but it is set to get back underway soon.

Cllr Simon Gibson, added: “Dorset Council was also successful in obtaining £3.79m through the Coastal Communities Fund in 2019 and, though work was forced to pause due to the pandemic, construction is due to start this autumn to bring a currently disused area of Weymouth Harbour into full use, safeguarding fishing, charter and harbourside businesses.

“This regeneration scheme will also provide new facilities for harbour businesses and will significantly improve the public realm in this area, bringing benefits to the local community and visitors.”