Southwell Business Park

History

The Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, built at the beginning of the Cold War, was closed in 1995 when the Royal Navy closed their Portland base. The research site had employed over 2,000 people. Afterwards, the buildings remained empty for two years, until Roy Haywood and Ray Bulpit, whose business was the acquisition and development of former military sites, purchased the site in 1997.

The first tenants of Southwell Business Park arrived that year, with a wide array of businesses remaining at the park to date, providing employment for almost 500 people and being home to over 100 businesses. It is estimated that the total turnover generated at the park from 1997 to 2008 is over £200 million.

In 2005, the site's unused 1970s wing was developed into the Portland Spa and an 80-bedroom hotel, known as the Venue Hotel. Completed in 2008, the spa included a gym, a fitness studio and an indoor swimming pool. The Orchid Restaurant was also converted from the former AUWE canteen. It was later renamed to the Cliff Panoramic Restaurant and Bar. In 2009, the park went into administration after the UK recession made it difficult to repay borrowed money used to create the spa and hotel. In 2010, the site was sold to Compass Point Estates.

In 2013, the tenants of the spa took over the hotel and restaurant. Opening in September 2016, the park is home to the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy's new £14 million campus. In 2014, the Ocean Spa and Hotel closed, however by 2015 the hotel had reopened with new management, and was named Ocean Hotel and Bar. The hotel is currently known as the Maritime Hotel.