Weymouth office building could be converted to bedsits
An application's gone in for St Thomas Street
The conversion of an office building in Weymouth into bedsits would improve the area – according to planning agents.
They say the upper floors of the site, at 34A St Thomas Street, with two shop units at street level, will be converted to six bedrooms if Dorset Council agree.
An application says that part of the three-storey listed property is beginning to suffer from damp, after being empty for some time.
The proposal asks for a change of classification from office use to a property in multiple occupation, a change which an agent for the owner says will not impact on the building, but will improve it:
“Both the first and second floor are in poor decorative order, and have been subject to a lack of maintenance for a number of years which has had a negative impact upon the integrity of the building,” said a statement to the council.
The entrance to the upper floors would remain via an existing door between the two retail units with the addition of shared bathroom and kitchen facilities for the new occupiers.
Dorset Council ward councillor Jon Orrell has broadly welcomed the proposal, telling council planning officers:
“It makes sense to enable people to live in the town centre. There are shops and amenities nearby. We have many houses of multiple occupancy in the area.
"To make the small bedrooms fit for the future we need to ensure that they are all well insulated (from cold and heat) with double glazing for the winter and reflective blinds or shutters for the summer heat waves. This will also keep down heating bills for occupants and prevent overheating in the summers.”