Changes to plan for new homes at former Dorchester nightclub

Town councillors decided not to object to the alterations from the approved plan, although say they regret the loss of a ‘green wall’ from the designs which were agreed in August 2021.

Other changes include posts to support the balconies on some of the six homes and some amended minor architectural details.

Cllr Les Fry told the town planning and environment committee on Monday evening that he hoped the changes would not result in the loss of any items which would improve the new building’s carbon footprint.

Permission was originally sought for nine homes on the former Buzz Inn site in 2019, but was later amended, after objections, to six apartments.

The back of the building

The proposals retain the gent’s hairdressers at the front of the building with flats above and access to the new build homes through the existing archway.

The other business of the site, The Spice Centre, remains open and continues to trade.

Parts of the site have previously been used as a dance studio and for exercise classes, the nightclub having had various names over the decades, including the Steering Wheel Club, Liberty’s, the Buzz Inn and the Tavern Club.

READ MORE:

• Former nightclub building could be demolished to make way for housing
• Move to reduce number of homes planned for ex-nightclub site welcomed
• Former nightclub to be transformed into six new homes

The building owners want to demolish all of the existing buildings to the rear of the site, much of which they say is in poor condition and with large cracks in the roof.

Dorset Council planning officers had been told that the state of the rear building are beyond economic repair. It was built in the mid-1920s as a community hall and later used by the Women’s Institute.

The plans retain the existing frontage with two flats on the first and second floors facing High West Street and four three-storey homes to the rear of the site.