A PLAN to extend a Victorian villa in Dorchester has been dismissed.

West Dorset District Council rejected plans to convert a villa in Albert Road from five bedsits into three flats and a ground floor office for being clumsy and poorly proportioned.

Developer Lomand Homes Ltd, which had hoped to build a rear staircase extension to allow access to the flats and to use the garden for car parking, appealed against the decision.

But now government planning inspector Rebecca Phillips has dismissed the appeal, saying the proposed development would 'cause unacceptable harm and would not preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area'.

She said in her decision notice that the proposed extension would be at odds with extensions on two neighbouring villas, adding: "I saw that the rear aspect of the appeal site is clearly visible from public vantage points in Albert Road and High West street and consider that the extension would appear bulky in profile by virtue of its depth and narrowness.

"I consider that the proposed extension would detract from the character and appearance of appeal building and the conservation area.

"I am not convinced that the proposal before me represents the only possible design solution to ensure better use of the appeal building."

Ms Phillips said that the plan to use the rear garden for car parking would result in a more "austere form of development with car parking becoming a more prominent visual feature which would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the area."

She said that the site, opposite the Borough Gardens, was close to public car parking, close to amenities and well served by public transport.