8.1.1 The Isle of Portland has a population of about 12,840. It has a unique coastal character with very distinct villages and settlements separated by wide open spaces, parts of which are marked by the presence of the quarrying industry.
8.1.2 Portland is located to the south of Weymouth with the only link a single carriageway road on the causeway adjacent to Chesil Beach and The Fleet. The island contains some of the largest employment areas in the Borough. The former naval estate has provided opportunities for regeneration alongside new industrial and commercial development at Osprey Quay, Southwell Business Park and Portland Port. Much of Portland is covered by national and international environmental designations and it is at the heart of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The high quality landscape, important nature conservation interests, and restricted access across Chesil Beach all limit opportunities for further major development on the island.
8.1.3 Although the area is an attractive place to live, and contains some large employment sites, there are still areas that suffer from high levels of multiple deprivation. Three of the most deprived areas in Dorset are on Portland. There has been a considerable amount of regeneration over the past 15 years by the Regional Development Agency (now the Homes and Communities Agency) at Osprey Quay which has been enhanced by the hosting of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events. However there remains a mismatch between the available employment and skills and experience of some of the population.
8.2.1 In 2031 Portland will:
8.2.2 The future economic opportunities for the island will be based on maximising the potential of existing major employment sites and Portland Port, plus capitalising on the environmental and heritage assets to further develop sectors such as tourism and leisure. The improvements to high speed broadband secured as part of the Olympic legacy offer considerable opportunities to encourage more knowledge-based and creative businesses. However it is not suited to those industries that need to rely on swift access to the motorway network. In order to ensure that there is an adequate supply of employment land to accommodate future growth and job creation, a development site has been identified at Osprey Quay. In addition, a number of existing employment sites are protected as key employment sites.
8.2.3 Over the previous local plan period a significant amount of housing growth was identified on Portland, mainly on previously developed brownfield sites. Not all of these sites have been completed and so there are over 450 homes with permission that should still be built as a result. Sites will also come forward within existing development boundaries and further opportunities for affordable housing may arise from rural exception sites. Because of the number of existing commitments and the constrained nature of the island, no new strategic allocations have been identified for Portland. Additional housing growth could however be progressed through the preparation of a neighbourhood development plan.
8.2.4 The following developments all have consent and are expected to play a major part on delivering the vision for Portland. Some are associated with the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events, others are related to the ongoing regeneration.
8.2.5 There is also scope for further employment uses within Southwell Business Park, Inmosthay and Tradecroft Industrial Estates. These sites still have considerable scope for new employment on underused land, and will be protected for B class uses and other employment uses that offer economic enhancement.
8.2.6 Portland Quarries Nature Park is proposed to secure the long term future of Portland’s most important disused quarries, enhancing nature conservation interest, ensuring public access, long-term management and interpretation of these culturally important sites.
8.2.7 Tourism plays an important role in the local economy and Portland is an important visitor destination as part of the Jurassic Coast. It has a stunning natural and built environment and considerable opportunities for outdoor activities such as watersports, rock climbing, walking and bird watching. There is potential to capitalise on these assets, and diversify the tourist offer of the area including promotion of the activity opportunities the island has to offer. Whilst there are no other specific allocations for tourist and leisure uses on Portland, tourist based activities will be encouraged where they are consistent with other policies within this plan.
8.3.1 The maritime services sector is important for the local area and includes the shipping, ports and maritime business services industry as well as supporting other industries in Dorset. Portland Port is a port of national and international importance and is a vital part of the local economy and the south west region. The port attracts employment and investment to the area and is a major asset to the local community. Port development is subject to special constraints given its need for access to deep water and the statutory obligations imposed on port authorities in terms of security.
8.3.2 Approximately 35 hectares of port land is consented for B1, B2 and B8 uses and statutory harbour undertaking and an additional 17 hectares of seabed has consent for marine works including reclamation to create dockside operational land. The port’s statutory jurisdiction includes Portland Inner Harbour and extends into Weymouth Bay covering a total waterspace area in excess of 2,400 hectares.
8.3.3 “Transforming Dorset”, the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) produced by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership in March 2014, has identified Portland Port as an example of the type of opportunity that could achieve “transformational growth” subject to securing investment of the scale proposed by the document. The SEP proposes that the port could achieve far reaching development of unique natural port assets supporting industrial development, freight, exports and bringing a radically larger sector of the cruise market to the Dorset tourist economy. The port is identified as a key employment site and associated policies in the plan allow for its protection and the provision of employment (ECON 1 and ECON 2). These employment policies support the expansion of existing employment sites subject to other policies within the plan. Addtional land may be required within the port for sustainable development and these policies cater for the port’s need for long-term growth.
8.3.4 Parts of the port estate are within candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) and designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) and are therefore subject to the requirements of the relevant European Directives and corresponding national regulations. A number of existing buildings and structures are Grade II listed heritage assets. The area in the region of Grove Point is designated as part of the World Heritage Site and is also accessible to the general public. Local nature, heritage and landscape designations also exist and there are areas subject to land instability. Therefore any future development proposal will have to take account of the relevant environmental policies in the plan, and in considering the acceptability of proposals, their direct, indirect and cumulative impacts, relative to the significance of the asset affected, will be balanced against other sustainable development objectives.
8.3.5 To guide future growth the port is supportive of developing proactive working arrangements with the council and other stakeholders to prepare and support the preparation of strategies, plans and programmes to deliver sustainable development and facilitate better understanding and management of the port estate. These could include the identification of specific areas with greater potential for development and areas where there are opportunities for positive management and enhancement of nature conservation and heritage assets.
8.4.1 In 2001 a masterplan was approved for the redevelopment of 33 hectares at Osprey Quay, with the aim of creating a centre of excellence for marine business and leisure. Outline planning permission was granted for a mixed use re-development to incorporate leisure, tourism, recreation, employment and residential uses. The section 106 agreement tied the permission to land uses set out in the masterplan. Significant regeneration has taken place, some of which is associated with the National Sailing Academy and the hosting of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Events. The area now contains a mix of uses including a 560 berth marina and associated shore-side facilities, workspaces for marine related business, Coastguard Helicopter Base, restaurant/café, residential and a new school. There are existing commitments that have not yet been come forward which include further employment uses, a hotel, retail and residential use. A new masterplan is being developed with the Homes and Communities Agency to attract further investment and employment opportunities within the site.
PORT 1. OSPREY QUAY
i) Land at Osprey Quay as shown on the policies map is allocated for primarily employment, leisure and ancillary retail uses and residential as part of a mixed-use scheme. Any development should be in accordance with the most recent Osprey Quay masterplan agreed by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council.
8.5.1 The Former Hardy Complex was previously Navy accommodation. Planning permission for 554 new homes was granted in 2004. The existing officers’ accommodation blocks have been partly completed, with Atlantic House completed in 2009. The remaining phases of construction, which would provide 384 homes, have not progressed due to the economic downturn.
PORT 2. FORMER HARDY COMPLEX
i) The Former Hardy Complex as shown on the policies map is allocated for housing development.
8.6.1 Southwell Business Park is an ex-Ministry of Defence site. It has been used to create flexible workspaces for businesses and start-ups. The businesses are mainly micro-businesses from a wide range of service sectors, but the site also includes 350 storage units, a fitness centre, hotel and conference venue. Planning consent has been granted for change of use of Maritime House on the park to ‘Portland Academy’ (use class D1). This will provide an educational academy for 5-19 year olds that would link closely with business and the local community. It is a key employment site. Additional land is available to provide around 3,000m2 of light industrial units. It is in a sensitive location and particular regard will need to be had to the landscape and nature conservation interests on land within and adjoining the site, including its visibility from the South West Coastal Path and Heritage Coast.
8.6.2 Inmosthay and Tradecroft Industrial Estates are similar in character and provide opportunities for heavy industry that would not easily fit within a residential area. Both are identified as key employment sites.
8.7.1 The proposal for the development of a Portland Quarries Nature Park has been under consideration for a number of years and is being brought forward as an Olympic Legacy Project for the Isle of Portland. It includes the Kingbarrow Quarry Nature Reserve, Tout Quarry, The Verne Yeates Local Nature Reserve, restored land within Inmosthay Quarry and Butterfly Conservation sites at Perryfields and Broadcroft that are nationally significant for nature conservation, geology and cultural heritage. The Nature Park will secure the long-term future of Portland’s most important disused quarries, ensuring public access, long term management and interpretation of these culturally and biodiversely important sites. This land will be incorporated into the Green Infrastructure Network and protected under Policy ENV 3.
8.7.2 As opportunities arise as a result of the Review of Minerals Permissions (ROMPs), quarry restoration plans and section 106 agreements, other areas will be incorporated into the Nature Park. These may include areas within Inmosthay, Bowers, Admiralty and Broadcroft Quarries. Inclusion in the Quarry Park will be subject to agreement with the landowner, the site being restored and managed for nature conservation and ready for public access including the relevant safety audits and risk assessments.
PORT 3. PORTLAND QUARRIES NATURE PARK
i) Land at Kingbarrow Quarry, Tout Quarry, Verne Yeates, Inmosthay
Quarry and Perryfield Quarry Butterfly Conservation Nature Reserves
as shown on the policies map is allocated as part of the Portland
Quarries Nature Park to promote sustainable tourism, management
of conservation and heritage interest, enhancement of public access
and open spaces and opportunities for volunteer and community
involvement.
ii) As opportunities arise additional land shown on the policies
map may be included in the Portland Quarries Nature Park.
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