The transformation of Weymouth's Brewers Quay has taken a major step forward. 

Retail units have been made available to lease at the former brewery site and indoor attraction in Hope Square which is being redeveloped.

The project is a key regeneration site in the town which has long stood empty but progress is finally being made this year.

The lots have been put up for rent at the red-bricked Victorian building which will also house a refurbished museum, culture spaces and a cookery school.

They are designed for shops or restaurants/café’s to use and have been made available by Savills property agents.

The agents have described them as ‘attractive and prominent commercial units in very sought-after location’.

There are also plans to create 47 new homes including a mixture of Mews houses and flats above the retail units.

Weymouth town mayor Kate Wheller said she was ‘absolutely delighted’ the project is moving forward.

She said: “It gives us great confidence it is going ahead."

Cllr Wheller added: “The museum trust is in close contact with the developers and with the board of trustees and have been since they bought it – they have been very proactive."

Planning permission has been granted for the project which will also see disabled access provided to the front entrance, however, the condition of the building means putting a finish date on the project is hard to make.

Cllr Wheller said: “The work is currently underway, but due to the state the building was in, it is difficult to put a time scale on it, but they are making good progress.”

The development is being undertaken by local developers Brewers Quay LTD, with company director Jason Craig having previously told the Echo he is looking forward to seeing the plans come to fruition.

He said: “We’re looking forward to delivering this project – it’s something I’ve been working on for some time and have been working well with the museum.

“We’re eager to get it up and running – things are moving forward but we need to start construction.”

The Grade II listed site includes the main building, formerly the Devenish and Hope breweries and a smaller L-shaped building known as Coopers building, which fronts onto Devenish Square.

It was previously an indoor shopping complex with around 20 speciality shops together with heritage and science exhibits, until it closed in 2010.

It was also once home to the Timewalk attraction, a pub and bowling alley. In 2013, the site housed an antiques emporium. This closed in 2017 and much of the site has been left empty ever since.

Weymouth Museum, which will remain on the site once the redevelopment is complete, temporarily relocated to a pop-up shop in St Thomas Street.

However, the museum is now focused  on social history projects and preparing the collection for reopening.