CONCERNS have been raised over flooding risks to the basement of a Weymouth seafront building which is planned to be restored to its former glory.

The Grade 2 listed building, at No 80, is part of the Royal Terrace on the Esplanade close to the King’s Statue and is within the town’s conservation area.

The plans are to restore the building to its original Georgian appearance.

The proposed changes, if approved by Dorset Council, may see the front entrance restored with an elevated front door and basement access from pavement level to create the maisonette at ground and basement levels.

As part of the plans, the shop unit on the ground floor would be removed.

The existing business in the shop unit, Premier Express, currently has an ‘active’ lease.

The building’s owner has confirmed that the tenants will not be required to move until the lease ends, unless they wish to end the lease prior to that.

An architect for the owners previously said the shop unit "showed no respect for the original building internally and externally".

At a meeting of Weymouth Town Council’s planning and licensing committee, members raised concerns about the risk of flooding for the basement dwelling.

Cllr Luke Wakeling said: “They wish to convert the ground floor and basement into residential.

“The building touches the flood zone, there is a flood risk area and they want to put residential in a basement which you would not be allowed to do in a new development.

“I would like to put a comment on to raise to the planning officer’s attention. In my opinion, there is a risk there.

“The flood zone is at ground level technically, if you go ten feet down, you are in a different world.”

Cllr Jon Orrell added: “If it was a brand-new development, we would be reluctant to put people in the basement.

“That said, a lot of existing properties do have basement flats.

“I would support the objection, it probably needs an internal stairway for people to escape the basement to the next level, that would probably work.”

The town council committee unanimously objected to the plans on the basis of the flood risk.

Dorset Council as the planning authority has the final say on the application.