Dorchester's Brewery Square redevelopment work delayed

The main square will now open in March 2013, according to property developers

Work on a £100m redevelopment of a Dorset town centre has been delayed due to the wet and windy weather of the summer.

The main square at the Brewery Square development in Dorchester was set to open in October, but this has been delayed until March next year.

Waterhouse Resolution Property said cranes had not been able to operate in recent high winds.

It added this had not delayed the overall project.

'Rolling programme'

Among the approved proposals for the development is the conversion of the 130-year-old former brewery building into a hotel and spa, and homes.

The grade II listed brewhouse will be transformed into a 52-bedroom hotel and there are also plans for shops, a theatre and an ice rink.

Andrew Wadsworth, director of Waterhouse Resolution Property, described the delay as "short".

"Having been working on the scheme for 10 years, it's a blink," he said.

He added that Dray Horse Square Yard, opposite the entrance to the market car park on Weymouth Avenue, would open at the end of October and includes a new cinema and restaurant.

Mr Wadsworth said the whole scheme was "on target" but he was unable to give a completion date because it was a "rolling programme".