Plans have been put forward to transform a former Weymouth pub into a community hub.

A planning application has been submitted to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to convert the first floor of the Waverley Arms on Abbotsbury Road into three two-bedroom flats for adults with learning disabilities.

There are also plans to convert the ground floor into a daytime opportunity centre with a games room, an arts room and a community café, where tenants will be given the opportunity to work.

The Waverley Arms, which closed for the final time earlier this year, has been purchased by East Boro Housing Trust. The planning application is now in a consultation period.

Kevin Hodder, chief executive of East Boro Housing Trust, said the building will be an important community resource.

He added: "It will become a fantastic hub for our Weymouth tenants and many other people from the local community.

“One part of the building will be used for arts and crafts classes, another will be the community café side, so some of our tenants will help us run the café. We have a big function room with lots of activities from skittles and sport to yoga and karaoke.

"From a society point of view we are seeing more of a need for these types of facilities. This will be the first building of its kind in the area and if it works we will repeat it in other parts of the county."

The Waverley Arms was first put on the market more than a year ago.

Landlord of The Belvedere Inn in Weymouth Thomas de Brincat wanted to purchase the Waverley and keep it running as a pub but develop it with live music events, a rehearsal room and a recording studio for local musicians.

An application was made to list it as an asset of community value to protect the building. But the application was turned down by the borough council.

Before it was sold, a planning application was also put forward to convert the building into six residential flats, however, the owners didn't proceed with the scheme.

Councillor Ryan Hope, who represents Westham, said the development of a community hub would be a huge benefit to the area.

He added: "I think it is absolutely fantastic. There is nothing in the area which provides this, it will be a huge benefit.

“It is important as a community that we look after everyone and I think this will a be a great project to support that.”

The public consultation period for the planning application will close on Thursday, November 9.