The current economic climate means that district councillors face some difficult choices if the next phase of the Charles Stree scheme is to proceed in the short term, says a new report.
The first phase of the development provides modern offices costing £9.7 million for West Dorset District Council and a new library and adult learning centre for Dorset County Council.
A report to the district council’s Executive Committee on 9 October says the recession means that phase 2 of the scheme approved in 2010 is not currently viable.
Councillors face a stark choice – wait for the economy to improve and risk losing the strong interest from potential retailers, or allow developer Simons to propose changes that restore its viability. The latter is being recommended as the way forward, including:
- Substituting the proposed hotel with 24 open market flats
- Providing 305 public parking spaces as part of the Charles Street development and 179 elsewhere, possibly by using a single deck on Fairfield car park.
The report also recommends that preparatory works costing up to £2 million are funded by the council. This includes relocating Dorchester Community Church from Acland Road to a new home in Trinity Street.
West Dorset District Council Technical Services Manager Steve Woollard says in the report: “The council has worked hard to achieve a town centre development on the Charles Street site for some 30 years. The current proposals which have planning permission are the closest that has been achieved to success.
“Waiting for the economy to improve could lead to the loss of key anchor tenants and it is therefore suggested that the option of accepting changes to the scheme is the best way of achieving a development and securing over 600 jobs.
“However, there are risks in this approach which councillors need to bear in mind when they make a decision.”
Any revised plans for phase 2 would be displayed in the centre of Dorchester so everyone can view them and ask questions.
West Dorset District Council owns the Charles Street site, which is currently used as a public car park.
A separate report to councillors on 9 October also says the district council has received two bids to buy its current Stratton House campus. Neither was consistent with the council’s expectations which were based on independent professional advice on the disposal value of the site.
Director of Resources Jason Vaughan adds: “Although the results of the initial tender exercise are not what we would have hoped for, there are still a number of options to progress the disposal of the site which will be presented to the council’s Executive Committee next week.
“More details about each of these options will be needed before any decisions can be made, however, should the council choose to sell Stratton House for a lesser sum, or indeed retain the site until the property market recovers, the project to relocate to the new, smaller and more efficient offices in Charles Street will still deliver annual savings.”
The full reports to be considered by West Dorset District Council’s Executive Committee can be seen at www.dorsetforyou.com/406327
The approved plans for Charles Street include 23 shops, affordable homes, car parking, cycle parking and public toilets.
