The Western and Southern Area Planning Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss planning applications in Weymouth. The report pack included information on the replacement of harbour walls and alterations to Brenda Dench House to create new dwellings.

Weymouth Harbour Walls

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application concerning Weymouth Harbour, submitted by Dorset Council, for the replacement and strengthening of harbour walls F and G . The proposed work includes:

• Installation of new sheet pile walls in front of the existing walls.
• Tie bar extension and ground works.
• Works to the footpaths.
• Creation of open space along with ancillary works.

The application was being re-reported to the committee due to proposed changes to planning conditions which were resolved at the 23 January 2025 meeting.

The report pack noted that the application is part of a broader council initiative to restore and reinforce the harbour walls to the west and north of Weymouth Pavillion and improve the surrounding public open space. The project requires consent from both Dorset Council, as the Local Planning Authority, and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The application relates solely to works within the jurisdiction of Dorset Council.

The works to restore and reinforce the harbour walls may affect seagrass habitats and protected species of seahorse. Although the majority of these works fall under the jurisdiction of the MMO, the Local Planning Authority must nevertheless be satisfied that appropriate ecological mitigation measures are in place to negate any harm.

The applicant requested that the planning and marine licensing processes be decoupled to allow planning permission to be formally granted ahead of the MMO decision. The applicant advised that this would enable earlier discharge of planning conditions and reduce the lead-in time for commencing urgent flood defence works by approximately 2 to 4 weeks.

The report pack included a recommendation to grant planning permission subject to planning conditions. Updates to the conditions and informatives included within the February 2025 Committee Report were shown in bold for ease of reference.

Brenda Dench House

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for alterations and extensions to Brenda Dench House, St Mary Street, Weymouth, to create 10 dwellings. The application includes:

• Elevation changes at ground and first floor level.
• Changes to light-wells.
• Construction of new floor space at second and third floor level.
• Increase the height of the existing roof pitch on the south elevation and insertion of new windows.
• Installation of gates at both ends of the ground floor arcade.
• Installation of ancillary plant and equipment.
• Change of use of part of hairdresser floorspace at 39 St Mary Street to a retail unit, with the remaining floorspace to accommodate ancillary residential facilities.

The report pack included a recommendation to refuse the application for the following reasons:

1. The site is identified in the Weymouth Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA2) as being at future risk of tidal flooding. The proposal fails to demonstrate safe access and escape routes, in conflict with policies ENV5 and WEY1 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015), paragraph 181 of the NPPF (2025 update) and ref. IDs 7-005-20220825, 7-044-20220825 and 7-047-20220825 of the Planning Practice Guidance.
2. The application site is located within the town centre conservation area. The poor materials and detailing fail to achieve a high-quality design. The proposal is therefore in conflict with policies ENV4, ENV10, ENV12 and ENV15 of the of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and paragraphs 135, 139, 212 and 215 of the NPPF (2025 update). The development would lead to less than substantial harm to designated heritage assets, which would not be outweighed by public benefits.
3. The development would be in very close proximity to the sole kitchen window serving a residential property at 36a Maiden Street. The development would completely compromise the outlook and light entering this room, as well as result in an overbearing relationship. This would be detrimental to the living conditions of this neighbouring residential property and is therefore in conflict with Policy ENV16 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and paragraph 135f of the NPPF (2025 update).
4. The proposed floorplans show bedrooms in flats 8, 9 and 18 would endure an unacceptably poor outlook with little natural light and an overbearing relationship from surrounding lightwell walls. Bedrooms in flats 8, 9, 14 and 15 would have a very close relationship to neighbouring third-party trees, which would compromise their natural light and outlook. The proposal is therefore in conflict with Policy ENV16 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and paragraph 135f of the NPPF (2015 update).
5. There is a group of trees located to the immediate south of the building within third-party land. In order to facilitate the build, access to this land would be required, but there is no guarantee the landowner would agree. In addition, fairly extensive works would be required to cut back the trees to achieve a maintainable clearance for the amenity of future occupants. This would require regular applications to undertake tree works, which again cannot be guaranteed because of the landownership issue. There is thus no certainty of an acceptable relationship with these trees during either the build or for the longer-term habitation of the flats. This places the proposal in conflict with Policy ENV10 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (2015) and paragraph 136 of the NPPF (2025 update).