A PLANNING application for a new Dorchester church is due to be submitted next month.

West Dorset District Council is working with the Dorchester Community Church to relocate it to a new site in Trinity Street car park.

The move will enable to church’s current site in Acland Road to be incorporated into the second phase of the proposed Charles Street town centre development.

The district council has already agreed to carry out preparatory works on the Charles Street site on behalf of developers Simons, which includes the demolition of the existing church building.

Leader of West Dorset District Council Robert Gould said: “The relocation of the Community Church to a new site at Trinity Street will be an important part of preparing the Charles Street site for development.

“It is still early days however and the proposals to relocate the church will depend on planning permission being granted.”

Douglas Holt, secretary to the trustees of the Dorchester Community Church, said: “The church and Simons have been preparing draft plans up until September last year, when the council agreed to work up final plans with us direct.

“The church trustees have been having very fruitful discussions with the council staff and architects Atkins since early this year, and are very pleased with the plans to be put in for planning application next month.”

The relocation of the church will also see the public toilets moved to elsewhere in the car park and alterations to the entrance to the site.

A new location for the C1 bus stop will also be included in the scheme.

Surveys of the site are currently being carried out by Wessex Archaeology before the final designs of the building are completed.