by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
REPAIRS, including refurbished flats and a new shopfront, are planned for a Dorchester South Street property following a fire which gutted the neighbouring building in December 2024.
The owner of No 38 want to restore the shopfront and again provide two flats on the floors above – all in keeping with the character of the original 19thC designs.
The building was last used as a newsagents but was empty at the time of the fire which destroyed the adjacent building and badly damaged the party wall, roof and chimney.
Some repairs have already taken place to prevent further weather damage with the properties still surrounded in scaffolding.
The development will also include changes to an existing, linked, commercial building behind the South Street property, on Trinity Street, last used as a tattoo business. Most of those changes will be internal.
Among the planning proposals for No 38 are new timber frame windows, a new gable wall, repairs to the roof and a new dormer. A new bathroom will be added on the first floor to replace a collapsed toilet room. Some damp-proofing will also be carried out to the building’s basement.
The proposals also include stripping off the South Street façade to reveal the original brickwork.
Dorchester Civic Society has welcomed the proposals, although has some concerns over the style of new windows, but says in its comments to Dorset Council : “Despite our reservations about the proposed fenestration, we view the application as a very positive step towards reinstatement of this important terrace.”
Public comments on the application (P/LBC/2025/07232) remain open until January 17th
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