Another Portland shop is to be converted into a studio flat.

Dorset Council gave permission for a change of use last month for a former shop at Easton – now they have agreed another, this time at Castletown.

The owners of the first property to be approved, at 30 Easton Street, said that the arrival of Tesco and the recent closure of the only bank in the area made it difficult to keep the building for any form of business use.

The latest Portland application to be approved is for 7A Castletown, the ground floor of the three-storey no 7 which already has two flats above and one alongside it, that having been converted from a retail unit to housing in 2013. The building directly faces Castletown slipway and a commercial dry dock.

Planning officers were told that the change of use would not result in any external alterations to the building.

Local councillor Paul Kimber and the town council supported the change of use, the council commenting that they were aware the owner had tried for 18 months to sell the property as a business without success.