Extension of Vespasian House in Dorchester agreed

The 3-2 vote came following pleas not to approve it from Dorchester councillors Richard Biggs and Les Fry in addition to opposition from the town council.

Cllr Fry said after the meeting that it was another occasion when a planning committee had completely ignored local views.

Each of those who addressed the planning committee said the extensions would add to traffic and parking problems and cause terraced houses opposite the site being overlooked.

There was also criticism that the extra bulk of the mid-70s building would have an impact on the listed Keep military museum and another listed building at the other end of Barrack Road.

Despite the criticisms the building’s owners say the extensions will soften the structure and add architectural interest as well as providing much-needed small homes which will be offered, if a deal can be agreed, to key NHS workers.

Their plans include a green-roof extension on the grassed area facing the road junction, opening up the area, to include a café, and another extension to the side . The proposals will bring six flats in total.

Said a company statement: “RTI Ltd are pleased to receive planning consent for Vespasian House. This follows two years of work with the local authority conservation officer and planning department along with the team from Thrive Architects, seeking a suitable design to complement this important section of Bridport Road and The Keep Museum.

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Managing Director, Malcolm Curtis says: “We believe that this final design will be an asset to the gateway to Dorchester and provide significant improvements to both Vespasian House and to the entrance to the History Centre, by removing the barrier to Bridport Road and the creation of a public realm”

Following archaeological investigation works, the project will commence in 2023 and is expected to last for 12 – 18 months.”

The building is currently used as offices by the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and the Dorset Primary Care Trust but has an approval for conversion to 65 flats.

RTI Estates Limited asked 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 building with 83square metres for commercial, business and services uses on the ground floor with two 1-bed apartments on the first floor, with a ‘green’ roof above.

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

Vespasian House on Bridport Road

Former Dorchester mayor Richard Biggs appeared before the committee as a resident, rather than a councillor. He said he had not objected to any of the previous changes approved on the site but believed the current plan was an over-development which would result in the loss of a much-valued green space and a loss of privacy for those living in the 1880s homes, opposite. He said he was also worried about the safety of anyone living in the proposed flats having to cross busy roads to get into town with the noise and fumes from passing traffic forcing them to keep windows closed.

Town council planning and environment committee chair Cllr Robin Potter appeared at the meeting to raise similar points on behalf of the town council which had voted to oppose the scheme.

He said he was very concerned about the impact on the town’s conservation area and said the new extension would destroy the visual symmetry of the existing building and have a detrimental effect on the setting of the Keep Museum.

Cllr Fry made similar objections in a statement to the committee also arguing that more than six parking spaces should be allocated for the flats.

Speaking after the meeting he said the decision had been another where local views were ignored: “It’s the wrong decision, for the wrong reasons,” he said.

Gillingham Cllr Belinda Rideout said despite the criticism from Dorchester councillors she thought the proposals were “quite pleasing to the eye” and would improve the street scene.

“It is a good design and improves the look of the building. I don’t think it has a detrimental impact on the Keep and Little Keep, infact it improves it,” she said.

Cllr Tim Cook (Shaftesbury) said that apart from concerns about a lack of specific parking for the café he welcomed the re-development of the site which was proposed to be accepted by Sturminster Newton councillor Carole Jones.