Bulldozers arrive to demolish Dolphin Square in Weston-super-Mare

Major demolition work has started on Weston-super-Mare’s dilapidated Dolphin Square as part of a £40 million redevelopment of the site.

Bulldozers moved in yesterday to begin the demolition of Somerset House – the former North Somerset Council offices – and the multi-storey car park.

It is envisaged the whole site including the flats and shopping complex, which was built in the 1960s, will be cleared by the summer for development work to start.

A number of national retailers, including Vue Cinemas, First Bowl, Nandos, Harvester, Pizza Express, Prezzo and Real China have already signed up to the scheme.

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The first shop units are expected to be available by spring 2014.

The regeneration scheme will see the creation of a new eight screen cinema, indoor bowling alley, eight new retail units and eight cafes and restaurants.

Staff in the former council offices relocated to the new refurbished Town Hall as part of the scheme.

The indoor market within Dolphin Square relocated to a new home at Pier Square earlier this year.

This is the final phase of the multi million pound regeneration project being led by developer McClaren Life.

McClaren Life spokesman Richard Evans said: “The cleared Dolphin Square site can ensure all parties can look forward to the new development becoming a reality.

“We continue to market the site and are in negotiations with a number of national retailers.”

A new 112-bed Premier Hotel has already opened on the former Beach Road car park and a new 380 space car park opened at Carlton Street.

McClaren Life has also allocated £1.5 million to highways and public realm improvements in the High Street, Carlton Street and Union Street as part of the regeneration project and is also assisting with the town centre’s new car parking management scheme.

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, is expected to create around 450 new jobs for the town.