Dorchester’s local authority is attempting to revive plans for a shopping centre scheme which were abandoned with the collapse of the stockmarket in 1987. West Dorset District Council has appointed Drivers Jonas to renew market interest in the 1.7ha (4 acre) site.
Graeme Tulley, partner and head of local authority consulting at Drivers Jonas, told EGI that the original MEPC scheme had been abandoned when property prices crashed at the end of the 80s. The site has since been used as a temporary car park, he said.
Then the developers had permission to build a 13,935sq m (150,000sq ft) covered mall, but Tulley said the new project would probably be slightly smaller. It has not yet been decided whether to put forward new proposals for another covered mall, he added.
The scheme will probably incorporate retail with leisure and perhaps some residential units. Drivers Jonas is now drawing up a development brief with a view to selecting a developer next spring.
EGi News 10/07/96
