Care facility refused in Weymouth

CHANGES to a Weymouth town centre building to create bedrooms for young people leaving care has been refused  – because of the risk of flooding.

Changes to a Weymouth town centre building to create bedrooms for young people leaving care has been refused  – because of the risk of flooding.

A private social work company had requested changes to the upper floors of its offices at 52 St Mary Street for those aged 18 to 25 – the existing building described as “an education and social welfare facility”.

The site is to the southern end of St Marys Street between St Edmunds Street and Custom House Quay, surrounded mainly by commercial buildings.

One of the classrooms there would have been divided to create two bedrooms, the other two by converting other rooms.

The planning application came from the Whitehead-Ross Social Work which works for a number of local authorities, including Dorset.

It said there would be no changes to the exterior of the building but internal changes would be made to create four bedrooms, a kitchen area and shower – with the second floor already used as an Air B&B flat with its own separate entrance.

Planning officers rejected the proposal saying it would be unsafe to add more accommodation in a town centre location likely to flood, the report stating: “the lack of uncompromised routes to provide access and/or escape during a flood event would place future occupants at greater and unnecessary risk from flooding and its consequences.”

Similar town centre housing plans in recent years have been rejected on the same grounds.