RADICAL extensions are planned for Dorchester’s Vespasian House office building which could bring six apartments and extra commercial space.

The building is currently home to the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and the Dorset Primary Care Trust but does have an prior approval decision for conversion to 65 flats.

Dorset Echo: Vespasian House, Dorchester Picture: Trevor BevinsVespasian House, Dorchester Picture: Trevor Bevins

A new planning application from RTI Estates Limited, which has its offices within the building, asks for a four storey extension to the building with four 2-bed apartments at the southern end of the existing block and a detached rounded frontage building with 83square metres for commercial, business and services uses on the ground floor and two 1-bed apartment of the first floor, with a ‘green’ roof.

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Dorset Echo: How the re-vamped Vespasian House might look – courtesy RTI Estates LtdHow the re-vamped Vespasian House might look – courtesy RTI Estates Ltd

The new build, if approved, would be on the current grassed areas on the Bridport Road side of the building and around the corner into Barrack Road, opposite the Keep Military Museum and the town sorting office.

The proposed two storey building would be built in front of the existing offices leaving space between the two structures.

The application argues that the proposal would not materially affect the appearance of the area being designed to fit in with the existing building and would make good use of the space available whilst offering additional homes in the town centre and a small area of commercial space.

Public comments on the application remain open until September 28.