South Walks House in Dorchester - inset picture: Thrive Architects CONVERTING Dorset Council’s former headquarters in Dorchester to flats may result in problems – according to some Dorchester councillors. An application is already in the planning system for conversion of the South Walks House building to 41, one, two and three-bed apartments. Town council planning committee chairman Cllr Robin Potter said this week that alterations to the building, designed for office use, could present problems because many of the existing windows could not be opened to create a natural flow of air. Cllr Richard Biggs agreed saying that, unless re-configured, some flats might end up being too hot, on the sunny side, and others too cold.
South Walks House in Dorchester THE controversial decision to close Dorset Council’s most up to date building, South Walks House in Dorchester, and transform it into homes has taken another step this week. A planning application, known as prior approval , asks for conversion of the building to 41, one, two and three-bed apartments. Twenty are proposed as one-bed units, 19 as two-bed and 2 three-bed. The application, from the council, will be decided by the council. The application involves only the council offices, not the adjoining library and learning centre which will remain open.
READ MORE: Application papers say the 3,500 square metres of office space will be converted to homes and the existing 41 lower ground floor parking spaces allocated to residents, although this leaves no room on site for visitor parking spaces, which it is argued could be accommodated in nearby car parks, including the adjoining Old Market car park.
major changes to Dorchester town centre as new homes planned DORCHESTER’S ‘townscape’ could soon be changing with proposals to convert more offices into homes. Town and unitary councillor for the county town, Andy Canning, says the trend, partly brought about by the pandemic, could have consequences for the town centre economy, parking and congestion. He is asking for changes in the Local Plan, currently being reviewed, to reflect this. Dorset Council-owned buildings could be converted to homes – the South Walks House headquarters and the South Annexe on the County Hall site, along with other privately-owned buildings in the area.
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