The government announced in January 2023 that we were successful in securing £19.5 million of Levelling Up funding, intended for investment in Weymouth to kickstart economic growth in the town.
Round two of government’s flagship Levelling Up fund has seen more than 100 projects across the UK share a slice of the £2.1 billion of funding to create jobs and boost economic growth.
The successful, ambitious bid to the second round of the government’s Levelling Up Fund was submitted in summer 2022, with the aim of regenerating Weymouth’s waterfront economy.
Details of the successful bid
The successful Weymouth’s waterside regeneration bid focusses on three key sites in the town - the Peninsula, North Quay, and originally the town centre.
We have asked the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for permission to re-allocate funding originally intended for the town centre, to the Weymouth Bowl site.
The main focus of the work outlined in the bid includes:
- installation of utility infrastructure and repairs to the harbour walls at the Peninsula and North Quay which will allow proposals from private investors for new residential, commercial and leisure to be invited
- the business case for the harbour wall repairs is based on bringing work forward by 10 years, so redevelopment can happen sooner
- potentially the Weymouth Bowl site and land acquisition on the west side of the marina, known as West Marina Sites (Westway Road/ Newstead Road) subject to DLUHC approval to reallocate funding
Representatives from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will work together with officers from Dorset Council to oversee the work.
There are several outcomes that we aim to achieve through the levelling up projects, including:
- the creation or improvement of hospitality space
- the provision of new residential units
- the creation or improvement of public spaces
- the creation of retail space
A vision for Weymouth Harbour and Peninsula
A vision for the harbour and peninsula areas of the town has been developed to establish our ambitions, following engagement with stakeholders.
The report divides the strands of proposed regeneration activity in these areas into short, medium and long-term options. Currently, the short and medium-term options are being progressed, and the long-term options will be revisited at a later date.