by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Fresh planning decisions in Dorchester include a series of town centre conversion schemes, transport improvements and home extension proposals, with Dorset Council approving most applications.
Among the most notable approvals were twin permissions for 38 South Street and 5A Trinity Street, where listed building consent and full planning permission were granted for works including rebuilding a party wall, replacing the shopfront and creating two flats on the upper floors under applications P/LBC/2025/07232 and P/FUL/2025/07231. The building stretches between the two streets with the Trinity Street building a former tattoo studio and the South Street building previously used by Martins Newsagents.
Planning consent for the re-development of the double-ended site was sought prior to the fire which destroyed the next-door Gorge Café in South Street and has resulted in part of the street remaining sealed off for safety reasons.
Elsewhere in the town centre, Dorset Council approved plans to convert 41 High West Street from commercial premises into three flats under P/FUL/2025/07361, a trend in the street, while listed building consent was granted for two new customer information displays at Dorchester West Railway Station under P/LBC/2026/00235.
A number of household schemes were also given the go-ahead, including a first-floor rear extension at 2A Alice Road, a conservatory roof alteration and roof lights at 28 Dagmar Road, a side extension and porch at 76 Celtic Crescent, and a rear extension at 24 Barrow Close.
Other approved works included a replacement porch at 8 Glyde Path Road and remodelling works at 4 West Walks.
Not every scheme succeeded. Dorset Council refused plans for a first-floor rear extension at 15 Mountain Ash Road under P/HOU/2026/01243, while plans for a two-storey rear extension at 23 Kensington Walk under P/HOU/2026/01210 were withdrawn.
