Housing plans at fire station
HOMES, potential flooding and the need for a high quality design were key issues when planning guidance was debated for the future redevelopment of Weymouth Fire Station.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service hopes to use cash from the sale of the North Quay site to help fund a new station and the council is keen to set out planning proposals and requirements for any development to help guide prospective purchasers of the land.
Environment spokesman Coun Doug Hollings and community spokesman and Weymouth and Portland mayor Coun David Harris met to fine-tune and agree planning guidance and advice for Dorset Fire Authority.
Conservation officer Colin Ellis said the building was in the Weymouth Town Centre conservation area, so demolition would need to be justified, as the main building had 'some character'.
Mr Ellis said it dated from the 1930s and there was a suggestion the practice tower could perhaps be retained in the redevelopment.
But Mr Hollings said he did not want guidance to be too restrictive for developers and he did not think the building was that attractive.
Mr Harris agreed and said: "To me the tower is not a necessary feature of any development.
"If someone can come up with a design which incorporates it sensibly then fine, but if it gets in the way of a development which offers real community value I would be loath for it to be restrictive."
Mr Hollings said whatever was built had to be 'in context' with surrounding buildings such as The Boot pub, adding that there had to be variation in eaves and ridge heights because 'we don't want a big monolithic block'.
Mr Ellis said it was a difficult area to develop and that, as a gateway site to Boot Hill, it was very sensitive. He added that the council wanted to encourage a mix of uses for the site, perhaps incorporating homes and offices.
Flooding was an issue, he said, but this could be dealt with through raised levels or by having no homes on the ground floor.
Archaeology was also an issue and Mr Harris said the area had seen English Civil War battles and so bodies might be found.
Mr Hollings concluded: "This is an important and prominent site in Weymouth and as such we will clearly consult with the public about its development."
10:04am Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: maximus, Weymouth on 10:22am Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]as such we will clearly consult with the public about its development[/bold][/quote]
Now, where have I heard that before?
as such we will clearly consult with the public about its development
Now, where have I heard that before?
Posted by: Old Synic, Wyke on 10:35am Thu 27 Mar 08
Let's cut to the chase and save all the consultation time and money.Give the site to Howard Holdings and let them do what they want with it.It seems to have worked in other parts of town.
Let's cut to the chase and save all the consultation time and money.Give the site to Howard Holdings and let them do what they want with it.It seems to have worked in other parts of town.
Posted by: bluecat, Weymouth on 10:46am Thu 27 Mar 08
"Conservation officer Colin Ellis said the building was in the Weymouth Town Centre conservation area, so demolition would need to be justified, as the main building had 'some character'."
What character? The building is ugly and unnecesarily occupies a valuable site ... like the council offices.
"Conservation officer Colin Ellis said the building was in the Weymouth Town Centre conservation area, so demolition would need to be justified, as the main building had 'some character'."
What character? The building is ugly and unnecesarily occupies a valuable site ... like the council offices.
Posted by: Wessex Lass, Dorchester on 1:55pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Who wants to bet that any homes built there will be so over priced that nobody in the area will be able to afford one?
Who wants to bet that any homes built there will be so over priced that nobody in the area will be able to afford one?
Posted by: young_un, Weymouth on 2:40pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Wessex Lass[/bold] wrote:
Who wants to bet that any homes built there will be so over priced that nobody in the area will be able to afford one?[/quote] ah, you mean like the affordable homes on the pavilion site!
Wessex Lass wrote:
Who wants to bet that any homes built there will be so over priced that nobody in the area will be able to afford one?
ah, you mean like the affordable homes on the pavilion site!
Posted by: James, Weymouth on 7:14pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Now only yesterday we read in the Echo that the council have let a listed building fall into a very poor condition. Today we hear that the council think that this is an important building. You simply could not make it up!
Now only yesterday we read in the Echo that the council have let a listed building fall into a very poor condition. Today we hear that the council think that this is an important building. You simply could not make it up!
Posted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 7:38pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Worth reading the following story about the bag-of-worms Dorchester Council & Housing Association are involved in....
[bold]Affordable housing site saga rolls on
7:56am today[/bold]
Worth reading the following story about the bag-of-worms Dorchester Council & Housing Association are involved in....
Affordable housing site saga rolls on
7:56am today Posted by: tiger, preston on 6:46am Fri 28 Mar 08
[bold]Mr Hollings said whatever was built had to be 'in context' with surrounding buildings such as The Boot pub, adding that there had to be variation in eaves and ridge heights because 'we don't want a big monolithic block'.[/bold]
No chance he is talking about the pavilion site is there?
[bold Archaeology was also an issue and Mr Harris said the area had seen English Civil War battles and so bodies might be found.
[/bold]
If bodies might be found, why were they not found in the 1930's?
[bold]Mr Hollings concluded: "This is an important and prominent site in Weymouth and as such we will clearly consult with the public about its development."[/bold]
Having eventually found the display in the pavilion, and attended meetings in the past, I would refute this statement.
With councillors getting in excess of £330/month in allowances maybe I need to pay to be heard.
The only thing I can find that the proposed pavilion development and George III have in common is insanity.
Mr Hollings said whatever was built had to be 'in context' with surrounding buildings such as The Boot pub, adding that there had to be variation in eaves and ridge heights because 'we don't want a big monolithic block'.
No chance he is talking about the pavilion site is there?
If bodies might be found, why were they not found in the 1930's?
Mr Hollings concluded: "This is an important and prominent site in Weymouth and as such we will clearly consult with the public about its development."
Having eventually found the display in the pavilion, and attended meetings in the past, I would refute this statement.
With councillors getting in excess of £330/month in allowances maybe I need to pay to be heard.
The only thing I can find that the proposed pavilion development and George III have in common is insanity.
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