THE taxpayer could be left to pick up the bill after a planning matter went to appeal - because a ‘technical reason’ meant it could not be dealt with in the timeframe.

A change of use for two parts of the former West Dorset District Council offices at Stratton House from office to residential has been approved.

But a report by planning inspector Jane Miles notes that the district council never objected to the change of use application.

The application dealt with two separate ground floor areas within the Grade II listed Stratton House.

Planning permission and listed building consent for a scheme to turn the main building into 15 flats was granted in February last year and work is already underway.

The report notes that the appeal was made ‘against a failure to give notice within the prescribed period of a decision on an application for planning permission’.

In the report, Ms Miles notes: “The council officers’ report prepared after this appeal was submitted indicates that the council has no objection in principle to the proposed change of use in terms of loss of employment space.

“Nor does it consider that the proposals would harm the special interest of the late 19th century listed building or the character or appearance of the Dorchester Conservation Area in which it is located."

“Given the minimal nature of internal and external alterations, most of which are described as being included in the listed building consent already granted, I too am satisfied the proposals would not harm the special interest, character, appearance or significance of the designated heritage assets.”

The report also notes that an application of costs, made by the developer Stratton House Developments (Bournemouth) Ltd against the district council, will be decided upon separately.

Chairman of the district council’s development control (planning) committee, Cllr Fred Horsington, said: “The matter went to appeal on non-determination because the council did not make a decision within the timeframe. We are not opposed to what the decision is.

“The reason it did not get done was due to a technical reason. Until the decision about costs is made I cannot comment further.”

The report states: “The council’s failure to process and determine the application appears to stem in part from a belief that it could not proceed as a change of use from Class B1 because the earlier permission to convert the principal building had not been implemented at the application date and the office units in that scheme had not been created.”

“However, as the appellant has highlighted, the current use of the areas in question is within Class B1 by virtue of the previous office uses, and planning legislation allows for changes of use of part of a building.”