TOWN councillors have launched a scathing attack on a bid to lower the building requirements on the new Dorchester Library.

The original plans for the new facility, which shares a building with the West Dorset District Council ’s new offices at Charles Street, included an excellent BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environment Method) rating for energy efficient design.

However, developers Simons have now put in a planning application to amend the BREEAM requirement level from excellent to very good.

The standard for the council office part of the building will remain at excellent.

Town councillor Molly Rennie asked: “Why should something now go from excellent to very good?”

The committee agreed to object to the application and recommend refusal on the grounds that it was a radical departure from the original concept and agreed planning brief.