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“It is our commitment to report the facts. Therefore, the media reports in this section reflect factual information.” Finding a preferred development partner Press releases Dorset Echo: 26.05.06 Dorset Echo: 21.03.06 Dorset Echo: 06.07.05 Dorset Echo: 10.05.05 Dorset Echo: 11.04.05 Dorset Echo: 05.04.05 Dorset Echo: 22.03.05 Dorset Echo: 16.02.05
Dorset Echo: 26.05.06 Councillor Howard Legg, unanimously voted into the role, said the development was 'the highest profile and most exciting project for the year ahead' and that it 'will change the face of Weymouth'. Speaking to councillors, borough dignitaries and guests at the Weymouth Pavilion, Coun Legg said work was going to step up a gear'. He said: "In September we'll see what's planned for the site, what it might look like and find out what the public thinks. "There is bound to be a wide range of views expressed and members of the council will have to think carefully and decide what's right for the borough. "After councillors have decided on this then early next year we should see a planning application. If that's approved, work can start towards the end of my mayoral year." Coun Legg, said he would chose his mayoral charities in time for the next full council meeting in June, as he had only learned of his nomination for the position last week while on holiday in America. Coun Legg, who has been a councillor for 17 years, said that Howard Holdings the company selected to carry forward work on the Pavilion project were 'good partners'. He added: "They need to improve on their communications with residents as well, and I know they are aware of this." He paid tribute to retiring mayor Les Ames and offered commiserations to Anne Kenwood, who was due to be elected to the office but lost her seat in the local elections on May 4. Paying tribute to and added that Coun Ames was the first person since the borough's creation in 1974 to serve two full tenures as mayor.councillor Ames and his wife Jean, Coun Andy Hutchings said the couple had attended over 400 engagements while in office Councillor David Harris was unanimously voted deputy mayor of the borough.
A CONTRACT for the controversial Weymouth Pavilion redevelopment could be agreed by Easter and the scheme built by 2011. Developers Howard Holdings said today that the company was close to contract agreement with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and hopes to submit a detailed planning application for the scheme by early 2007. Planners could then deal with that by thesummer of 2007 with work starting that autumn and due for completion four years later. Howard's UK managing director Martin Jepson talked to councillors last night about revised proposals for the overall scheme worth more than £100 million. He said they included a theatre, world heritage and tourist information centres, a marina with 250 berths (instead of 150), a public square and boulevard and work on the sea wall with a new pier. Mr Jepson also outlined plans for a four-star hotel with 150 beds and conference and fitness facilities, plus a new ferry terminal, 400 underground public car parking spaces and more than 200 high quality apartments an increase on the original scheme for 130 homes. Controversy erupted when news of the scheme's soaring costs emerged, but Mr Jepson strongly denied that Howard Holdings' initial price tag for the scheme had been kept low in order to help the firm beat rivals Urban Catalyst in the battle to become the council's development partner. Mr Jepson said that fine-tuning the scheme had revealed much higher costs, including dock wall repairs. "Howard Holdings assured us that inconvenience would be kept to a minimum and that work would be phased where possible to keep as much of the Pavilion open as possible.” He added that the higher costs could be offset by building more apartments and a wider range of restaurant or retail facilities. An option to remodel' the Pavilion rather than rebuilding it was Howard's favoured way forward, he said, and it would give the council the maximum possible number of facilities required. He added: "The town would end up with a remodelled 950-seat theatre, which is the guidance we have got from the community." He denied, however, that the company had earlier committed itself to a new 1,000-seat theatre. Mr Jepson said: "All we asked for was guidance from the community as to what it wanted. We could not have suggested a 1,000-seat theatre then because at the time we were awarded the partnership with the council no one had done a community study to find out what people wanted in a theatre. "Basically a new remodelled 950-seat theatre based on the core skeleton of the existing building will help save the council money. It will also give them a fantastic modern entertainment site to help their position as a tourist resort and at the same time enable the overall scheme to include as many community facilities as possible such as a World Heritage Centre, new public parking and a new ferry terminal. "It could have been possible to build a brand new 1,000-seat theatre by demolishing the old one, but it would have wiped out all these extra facilities. Weymouth would have effectively ended up with a single new civic building." Mr Jepson said that there was no question of Howard Holdings pulling out of the scheme. He added: "We are heavily committed. We have spent several hundred thousand pounds on preliminary work and we intend to carry this project through to a successful completion. "Part of the commitment is a series of talks with Weymouth planners and English Heritage. "We are discussing the potential height and density of the development to ensure that it fits in properly with the resort. "We will also be going out again to the public this summer to show people more detailed plans and to ask them what they think of them. This is a community project so the views of the community are important." Weymouth and Portland management committee chairman Coun Brian Ellis, who chaired last night's (mon) meeting between Howard and councillors said today: "It was a very good meeting 21 out of 36 councillors attended and we are much happier with the scheme now we have had an update. Howard Holdings were very positive. "Our major concern was that if the option to remodel the Pavilion rather than demolish it is supported then any closure of the Pavilion is kept to a minimum. "Howard Holdings assured us that inconvenience would be kept to a minimum and that work would be phased where possible to keep as much of the Pavilion open as possible." Mr Jepson said: "I think there was a genuine will on both sides to see this site developed. The big drive for us is to get it finished before the Olympics."
Dorset Echo: 06.07.05 BOROUGH councillors have chosen which company they want to work with in redeveloping the Weymouth Pavilion and ferry terminal site. Members of the Weymouth and Portland management committee voted five to two in favour of developers Urban Catalyst over rival company Howard Holdings. Councillors heard presentations from both companies before they debated who would be their preferred partner for the multi-million pound project. Committee chairman Councillor Brian Ellis described the choice as being between 'the flair of Urban Catalyst and the safety of Howard Holdings.' He said: "I believe both schemes were worthwhile, well-presented and either company could have provided the goods for Weymouth. "The important thing to realise is that this is very good news for the borough. "To have two major companies bidding to be involved illustrates the scheme's importance." Although Urban Catalyst has been chosen as the preferred partner the committee feel that because it was such a close race both companies deserve to make presentations to the full council on July 28. Coun Ellis said although in theory the management committee's decision could be overturned he believed the council would uphold the decision to work with Urban Catalyst. Urban Catalyst chief executive Ken Dytor said: "We are very pleased to be in this position. "We are fully committed to the scheme and hope the full council endorses the decision." Regional development manager for Howard Holdings Gary Charman said: "We are stunned by the outcome. "We came out top in the public consultation and I believe we ticked all the boxes required for what the council was looking for in this development." Urban Catalyst tabled a £78 million scheme which includes a central plaza, a 1,200-seat theatre with conference facilities, a world heritage centre provided as part of a tourist visitor base and a new ferry terminal building. There could also be a three-star, 240-bed hotel, a budget hotel, shops, cafés and bars, a 500-space multi-storey car park and homes, with 30 per cent affordable housing and the remainder built as holiday or retirement flats. Howard Holdings' proposal includes spending £42 million on a 130-berth marina, with sea wall work and a new pier. There would also be a new theatre, containing world heritage and tourist information centres, a 125-bed four-star hotel with conference facilities, health and fitness suite, a restaurant, a new ferry terminal, 130 high quality apartments and a public square and boulevard. The full council meeting will also discuss the mix of social housing the development will provide, and whether this will be on or off-site.
PEOPLE in Weymouth have welcomed the chance to have their say on the future design of the Pavilion site.
Developers unveiled their visions to the public after borough councillors asked for consultation with the community. Exhibitions have now been put on by Giant GR, Howard Holdings, and Urban Catalyst. The Parkridge Developments stand was delayed due to a technical hitch but is expected to go up this week. The four different plans include varying features such as a five-star hotel, World Heritage Coast centre, shops, housing piazzas, an ice rink and conference centre. Now people can make up their own minds about what developments they want to see spring up on the peninsula. Residents can browse the different stands and complete a short questionnaire to help the council arrive at a final decision. Officers said that 40 people had already been in to have a look round since the exhibition was launched at Weymouth Pavilion yesterday. Budmouth Technology College student Carrieanne Walton, 15, from the Park District, said: "It is exciting to think that the place where I am standing now could be totally transformed. "What I really want to see is a dedicated place where teenagers can hang out and it would be great to have more high street clothes shops." Pensioner Brian Williamson, 68, of Weymouth, said: "Everybody ought to come along and have a look at these displays. "I think the Giant GR proposal is the best because I like the idea of having a quality hotel as well as a theatre, and I totally approve of the car parking scheme." Community worker Ken Whatley, 58, of Ranelagh Road, said: "I think it is only right to let the public have their say on this. I welcome the chance to see these plans and make up my own mind - the commitment to build social housing is excellent." Amateur ballroom dancer and borough councillor David Mannings, who runs Preston Dance Club, said he was keen to see the Ocean Room retained or replaced. He added: "We need as many people as possible to view the plans so we can make the right decision on their behalf." Councillor Peter Farrell chairs the joint committee that will recommend the preferred developer to the other councillors. He said: "I hope people will take advantage of seeing these presentations and give us an idea of what they want to see built on this site and what their future needs are." Council spokesman Peter Gilmour said all plans are concepts at this stage, rather than finished designs.
The exhibition will be held at the Pavilion between 1pm and 5pm until May 14. Then it moves to the North Quay council offices between noon and 5pm from May 16 to May 20. People on Portland can view displays at St George's Centre from 9.30am to 12.30pm between May 24 and May 26.
Dorset Echo: 11.04.05 A FRONTRUNNER in the race to redevelop Weymouth's Pavilion site has withdrawn its application. Crest Nicholson (South West) Ltd was shortlisted as one of the favourites for the scheme with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. But bosses pulled out after finding themselves with too much work on when other projects came to fruition. Now the council has replaced Crest Nicholson on a four-strong shortlist with a consortium led by Parkridge Developments Ltd. The move comes before councillors discuss re-development for the first time at a special joint meeting of the economy and regeneration and community regeneration and culture committees on April 12. Coun Brian Ellis, chairman of the council's management committee, said: "The good thing is that if one pulls out then we have others to fall back on and bring forward. "A number were not brought forward for the shortlist and the Parkridge was top of that list." The council shortlisted Crest Nicholson as a preferred partner along with Howard Holdings, Urban Catalyst and Giant GR, headed by Weymouth hotelier George Afedakis. The Crest Nicholson scheme included a landmark theatre, public square, exhibition space, promenade, shops, a café, leisure facilities and housing. Paul Talbot, Crest Nicholson South West design executive, said the Pavilion site was 'marvellous' and the company was disappointed to pull out. We have got quite a lot of work on. "Since we went for that bid others came through and we had to make some choices." Other bids that Crest Nicholson put ahead of Weymouth included residential schemes at Portsmouth and at Penarth, overlooking Cardiff Bay. Parkridge, Connells BMB Group, Reardon Smith Architects and Wharfside Regeneration were the four bidders not originally shortlisted. Now the council has promoted Parkridge to the shortlist for consideration at the meeting.
Parkridge, which is a property development investment group, has drawn up its scheme in partnership with George Wimpey UK Limited. Its project includes refurbishment of the Pavilion with an extended theatre and conference facilities, a new ferry terminal and a hotel with a heritage coast centre and tourist information centre. Other features include bars, restaurant, shops, homes with affordable housing provision, a piazza, an open-air performance area, walkway and 800 car parking spaces which may be built in a multi-story car park. The cost is estimated at about £70 million and the housing will be in a courtyard style up to six storeys high.
Dorset Echo: 05.04.05 THE final curtain will fall on Weymouth's seafront theatre as part of revolutionary plans to transform the pavilion peninsula. The 'extremely tired' venue will be bulldozed to make way for a brand new entertainment complex seating at least 1,000 people, if bids to overhaul the complex get the green light. A new theatre is a central part of the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's brief to bidders. Other possible new features include a new marina, casino, five-star hotel and restaurants and bars to encourage a new café culture in the resort. Eight firms have thrown their hats into the ring to be chosen as the borough council's preferred partner for radical redevelopment of the pleasure pier and surrounding area. But only four expressions of interest have made it onto a shortlist. Now representatives - including hotelier George Afedakis, who runs the Acropolis Hotel in Weymouth - will get the chance to address councillors and give presentations at a special meeting to be held next week. Representatives of Crest Nicholson (South West) Ltd, Giant GR Limited, Howard Holdings and Urban Catalyst Carillion LLP have all vowed to build a new theatre and breathe new life into the prime site overlooking the resort's bay and harbour. They believe their plans will create hundreds of jobs and attract wealthy tourists to the multi-million pound scheme, which could start to take shape within two years. The council's director of environmental services Richard Burgess said in his report to councillors: "Overall we are pleased with the range of expressions received, both in terms of the reputations of some of the developers interested and of the professional teams involved." He added that some expressions of interest for use of part of the area were received, but discarded because they did not meet the strict criteria. Prospective developers were asked to come up with a replacement theatre and leisure facilities, a new tourist information and world heritage coastcentre, replacement ferry terminal on a smaller site and new car parking.
Dorset Echo: 22.03.05 From the Echo, first published Tuesday 22nd Mar 2005.
They are bidding to revamp the 9.5-acre site after Weymouth and Portland Borough Council invited expressions of interest. The council today said that it had received eight bids - two from local businessmen and six from national applicants. Councillor Brian Ellis, chairman of the council management committee, said he was pleased that all the bids included a refurbished or new theatre in their plans. He said: "We are delighted with the level of interest that has been generated, which ranges from proposals led by well known local businessmen to submissions from significant nationally based developers." He added: "There are some hotels within it. "Some include restaurants. It is a wonderful site for a restaurant looking over the sea."
No other local businessmen would confirm interest. Coun Ellis added that there were some "real major players" applying to develop the site. He added that they included builders Crest Nicholson and applicants called Parkridge, Urban Catalyst and Waterside Regeneration. The council invited bids to become its preferred partner in redeveloping the site after a public consultation exercise last summer. Options included providing a new or refurbished Pavilion Theatre and ferry terminal as part of a mixed development on the site. Other ideas included a jurassic coast visitor centre, conference rooms, new tourist information centre and five-star hotel. The council is assessing submissions with the help of its consultants, Donaldsons. Coun Andy Blackwood, people and partnership spokesman, said: "I'm pleased to report that all the major submissions include proposals to replace the Pavilion with a modern theatre, leisure and conference facility, which was required by the council's brief. "While there is a long way to go to turn these ideas into reality, they do represent a significant step forward in realising the public's view that we address the improvement of the area and the future of the Pavilion in both financial and regeneration terms." The expressions of interest will be considered at a joint meeting of the economy and regeneration and community regeneration and culture committees on April 12. The management committee will consider the submissions on May 3 when it hopes to pick a preferred partner. If no applications are good enough the council may consider inviting a private operator to run the Pavilion. The council has also said that it will consider high quality homes with some affordable housing on the site.
Dorset Echo: 16.02.05 Agents for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council are formally seeking a development partner for the site - including the Pavilion, ferry terminal and car parks. There are specific requirements for potential developers. Stipulations include a redeveloped or refurbished theatre as part of a 'modern leisure-style building' with conference rooms, new tourist information centre and Jurassic Coast visitor centre. The 'open book' brief also states that there would need to be a redeveloped ferry terminal, an 'innovative and public realm' along the waterfront and car parking with at least 400 spaces, which could include a multi-storey car park. Weymouth Civic Society today called for the Pavilion building to be kept in any new development. John Reeby, society chairman, said: "We would be horrified to see the building demolished. It is quite a pleasant building with a good hall inside. We accept that money needs to be spent and that it needs to be added to, but we don't want to see the building go." He added: "We accept the need for conference facilities. These could be modest ones as there are already bigger ones at Bournemouth. "It could be beneficial to the town." Weymouth and Portland Borough Council instructed Bristol based agents Donaldsons to invite expressions of interest in the 9.5-acre site before March 18. The main options are to totally redevelop the site, incorporating a new theatre building, or to partially redevelop the site with the theatre in its current location but with significant refurbishment at the developer's expense. Other options for the site that the council may consider as part of a scheme are high-quality homes with some affordable housing and a top notch hotel. Mr Reeby said a multi-story car park could be intrusive unless it was built underneath the pavilion and a new public square with landscaping. A report on any expressions of interest will go to councillors in April but if no applications are good enough the council may consider inviting a private operator in to run the Pavilion. Richard Burgess, director of environmental services, said that there had been a number of enquiries and that the council would choose a preferred partner if there were any attractive proposals.
A WORLD heritage coast centre and multi-storey car park may be built in a major revamp of the Weymouth Pavilion site.
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