Green light for affordable flats in Weymouth for third time

Plans for the same site - positioned between the Esplanade and Gloucester Mews - have been approved by councillors at Weymouth and Dorset several times, including in 2019 and 2023.

Councillors said the flats are "desperately needed" with nearly 500 people on the waiting list for homes in the town.

The plans have been amended again with the addition of balconies, alteration to the layout of a car park and additional PV roof panels and a revised flood risk assessment.

The scheme will mean large extensions to the rear being demolished to make way for the new homes.

The site was last used as an amusement arcade with the sea-facing Esplanade side having been redeveloped with ground-floor commercial units and six flats.

The proposed flats will be at the rear of the building on The Esplanade (Image: Dorset Council)

Most of the new development will be to the rear of that, overlooking Gloucester Mews and a car park with 17 of the flats 2-bed and seven 1-bed.

The application says that "100 per cent of the flats will be affordable".

An application for 26 flats on the site was approved in 2019 but the consent lapsed and a further application was brought before Weymouth Town Council in 2023.

The proposed flats will be to the rear of the building on the seafront (Image: Dorset Council)

The revised plans were discussed at a meeting of the Planning and Licensing Committee at Weymouth Town Council.

Cllr Jon Orrell said: "We have approved this several times before, the building is in a dreadful state at the moment.

The rear of the building as it looks now (Image: Dorset Council)

"There are some minor changes and they have added some balconies and a tree, which I see as positive changes.

"We approved it last year.

"I would like us to say yes, could we please get on with it, we strongly support these plans."

Cllr David Northam said: "There are over 500 people on the Dorset Council housing register with a local connection to Weymouth and a further 400 people who have listed Weymouth as a preferred place to live, this is very necessary.

Cllr Peter Dickenson said: "We are saying please can you get on with it because these are desperately needed."

The proposal was unanimously approved by committee members.

Dorset Council will have the final say on the application.