Former M&S in Dorchester to become hotel
Whitbread has bought the building, to turn it into a Premier Inn
New plans have been revealed for the former Marks & Spencer store in Dorchester.
It's been sold to Whitbread - who own Premier Inn, with the intention of turning the site into a 100 bed hotel.
The former M&S store in South Street closed in 2020.
Since then the building's been largely unused and is in an increasing state of disrepair.
Louise Woodruff, Property Acquisitions Manager at Whitbread, said:
“We are delighted to have purchased the former Marks & Spencer site on South Street and want to deliver a new hotel of around 100 beds, revitalising this key town centre site.
“Following some early engagement with Dorchester Town Council and other key stakeholders, we’ll spend the summer working on our plans before holding a public consultation in the early autumn, before submitting our plans to Dorset Council.
“We believe that a new hotel in Dorchester will strengthen the town’s brilliant tourism offer, regenerate a near-derelict site, offer more choice to visitors and bring jobs and investment to the local area.”
We're told there'll be a public consultation on the plans in the autumn, with further details about that to follow nearer the time.