New plans revealed for former Bridport school site

Homes, an art gallery and café could go up on Gundry Lane

Author: Faye Tryhorn & Trevor Bevins - Local Democracy ReporterPublished 14th Apr 2023

Homes, a café, art gallery and book shop could be built on the former St Mary’s School site in Bridport's Gundry Lane.

The mixed use application has been sent in to Dorset Council.

Centaur Gallery (Fine Art) Ltd want to build a three-bed home, a single bed flat or maisonette and a single bedsit.

The plans also include a garden courtyard, car parking spaces and a bin and bike store and reconfigured commercial units within the building.

The site is within the Bridport Conservation Area with the changes expected to be made largely by making internal alterations to the grade 2 listed building.

The school was built in 1876 and was still in use as a school until approximately 1980.

It closed when a new premises was built on the outskirts of town with the property sold into private hands.

A statement within the application says:

“The proposal will have a beneficial effect on the immediate and wider areas of Bridport. It will bring an important local building back into use, and in the process of repair and maintenance prevent urban decay. It will also bring new life along Gundry Lane and provide it with the replacement of tarmacked areas with soft landscaping and a visual green area where there is currently none.”

We can comment on the plans to Dorset Council until May 6th.

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