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“It is our commitment to report the facts. Therefore, the media reports in this section reflect factual information.” The Masterplan approval Press releases Dorset Echo: 13.02.07 Dorset Echo: 10.02.07 Dorset Echo: 06.02.07
Dorset Echo: 13.02.07 In the past couple of days I have been approached by a number of residents who, having read the Echo's coverage of the Council meeting that approved the master Plan for the Pavilion/Ferry Terminal site, were left wondering why the Council voted by 20 votes to 8 to approve the plan. While the report made much of the public contributions, there was less mention of the debate between Councillors or their thinking behind supporting the Master Plan. In many of the contributions from both the public and Councillors that there was general consensus that something must be done. Councillors voting against approval of the Master Plan expressed many of the concerns made by members of the public. Their comments included references to a belief that the site would be over developed. As a result there would be too many apartments and the landmark building would be too tall. In addition they said there was a lack of information on which to judge the possible impact on the beach. Many councillors voting for approval of the Plan also expressed caution over the details which will have to be developed before planning consent could be granted. All councillors re-emphasised the Council's existing position on the marina i.e. a marina would not be permitted if studies showed an unacceptable impact on the beach or harbour. In the speeches made by councillors who supported the approval of the Plan, some councillors pointed to the lack of success of obtaining investment for either the Theatre or the whole site by other approaches. Previously the Council has tried to involve the private sector in the direct management of and investment in the Theatre, has made applications for Arts Lottery and other grant funding, and sought alternative development proposals. Some councillors emphasised that we had tried to market the site for purely leisure and tourism uses over a period of 13 years without any success. They also referred to the need for a redevelopment to reduce future running costs of the Theatre and new community space. Some councillors wanted to point out that there was an opportunity to increase the attractiveness of the whole area for the use the public; whilst a new 4 star hotel, along with a world heritage centre and large community space would mean more and different visitors. Many Councillors saw this decision as contributing to the Council's number one objective of improving the economy in terms of investment, jobs and wage levels. A number of councillors spoke of the significant gains to be achieved because of the requirement on the developers to make sure at least 30% of the housing was affordable. Finally several councillors spoke of the special responsibilities that they believed they carry and the need to get decisions right for the benefit of the future of the Borough, particularly for our youth. These are the points of discussion that influenced our Councillors to approve the Master Plan by 20 votes to 8. One final point, can I emphasis that a scheme has not been approved. Over the next few months, the specialist report on the impact of a marina on the beach and harbour will be considered and after that the developer will produce a detailed scheme and seek planning consent. There will be a wide ranging consultation on the details of a scheme produced by the developer and only after that will a final decision be taken. Tom Grainger, Chief Executive, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council.
Dorset Echo: 10.02.07 Weymouth Pavilion development company Howard Holdings said today that it could be back with a revised application in just four months time. The statement came after Weymouth and Portland council voted 20-8 in favour of a reduced scheme which will see the number of marina berths cut from 350 to 150 and the towering landmark building containing up to 345 flats cut from eight storeys to six storeys. Howard's UK managing director Martin Jepson said he was 'delighted' at support for the scheme which will also include a new theatre, a World Heritage Centre and new public room to replace the Ocean Room, a new ferry terminal and a public square. That support came after a rough ride for the scheme which was consistently condemned by large numbers of people including a 200-strong band of protesters who stormed the Guildhall to get into an earlier meeting on the plans which had to be abandoned and rearranged at the Pavilion. Mr Jepson said: "I just hope now that the protesters will take the time to understand the facts. "We are delighted to get the support of the council and we will now take on board what we have been given, which includes a reduction in marina berths from 350 to 150 and a reduction in the landmark building from eight storeys to six storeys, which will affect the penthouse and luxury element of the flats scheme. "This is a huge step forward. We have now been given a template and we will now get on with a detailed concept." Mr Jepson said he hoped that Howard Holdings would be back with plans in four months. He added: "Our focus is still on submitting an application for the scheme to the council by June. "What we now have to do is go back to our design team. "The council's decision has presented us with a challenging process to come up with a viable scheme. "It seems an easy thing to do but we have to work with our design team to come up with a reduced scheme and an equivalent area for profit elsewhere within the scheme to ensure we can still meet civic requirements but not make a loss ourselves. "It could just involve a few small tweaks to the plans or it might be a major redevelopment. We just have to sit down with the design team and discuss it."
Dorset Echo: 06.02.07 DEVELOPER Howard Holdings today hit back at critics who say the new Pavilion complex in Weymouth will not have enough public spaces. The developer claims that images of the £100 million plans show the redeveloped Ocean Room will have as much usable space as its predecessor. The new comments come before a full meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council debates the masterplan at the Pavilion on Thursday. The images also reveal a public square and an amphitheatre with 400 seats. Howard Holdings admitted to being stung by recent criticism of the plans by residents who claim there will be too many private flats, restricted access, loss of public spaces, a smaller Ocean Room and the destruction of views across Weymouth Bay. But the company says the scheme has been drawn up to meet the wishes of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council - not the interests of developers. The existing Ocean Room, which drains significant subsidies from the council, is due to be replaced by a smaller, 3,000 square feet, community performance space on the first floor of the building. But Gary Charman, regional director of Howard Holdings, says the new room makes better use of a smaller space and will retain a dance floor of the same size. He said: "Letters have been received that demonstrate concern over the size of the proposed performance space. The images show the usable space in the existing Ocean Room is the same as the arts and performance space in the Pavilion master plan. "The proposed arts and performance space will have acoustic separation, enabling it to be used as a performance venue at the same time as the main theatre auditorium." The plans also show an outdoor amphitheatre, which can seat 400 people. If the amphitheatre is used as the stage up to 1,200 could watch a performance from the beach. The plans also show a public square where events could be held, such as ice-skating and exhibitions. A 48-stall market could be sited there. Mr Charman said Howard Holdings took advice from the council in designing the plans. He said: "There are a number of hot topics associated with this project and perhaps we haven't done the best job in presenting the plans to the public. "These drawings are intended to clarify what the plans are as they stand - no final scheme has been decided yet. "The master plan is the council's master plan - it's not ours - we're the development partner. "That's why we didn't present the plans at the meeting last week, it was for the council's planning officer to do that." The council says it will consider management options in due course. A full council meeting to debate the master plan is due to be held at the Pavilion on February 8.
Dorset Echo: 21.12.06 PROPERTY experts have been appointed to help redevelop Weymouth Pier before the Olympic sailing events in 2012. Colliers commercial real estate will be the lead development consultant and had been appointed by developer Howard Holdings to advise on the major redevelopment of the 10-acre Weymouth ferry terminal site. Specialists from Colliers' Bristol office will be involved in advising on the brownfield site where development will include the creation of 300 apartments, a new marina, 50,000 sq ft of retail and leisure use, a new three-four star hotel with health and fitness centre, a public square, a heritage centre, a theatre and office space. Colliers regeneration director Philip Harcourt said: "This is a really exciting project that is scheduled to be completed by 2012 as it extends out into Weymouth Bay where the Olympic sailing events will take place. "We have been working with Howard Holdings on other major projects and with such a varied scheme we shall be involving other specialist sectors of our business." He added that Colliers would be examining the ferry terminal site to see how its future infrastructure could best work. Environment A programme will also be masterminded by Colliers to attract new businesses and shopping concerns to the site which could involve companies from all over the world, a reflection of Colliers' depth of inquiries. Retail, office and licensed and leisure teams at Colliers are acting as letting agents for commercial elements of the scheme while Colliers' Robert Barry will launch a campaign in January 2007 to find a hotel partner for the scheme. Destination consultants Locum Consulting - a top real estate advisory business which merged with Colliers earlier this year - has already completed an initial destination and heritage strategy and will continue to play a major part in the work. Colliers will be carrying out its work in Weymouth in tandem with a separate major £120 million development to transform Newquay town centre in Cornwall which also involves developer Howard Holdings. The project includes plans for residential accommodation, 80,000 sq ft of undercover shops, parking facilities for 640 vehicles, a cinema and library. |