Dorchester South Walks council office flats plan to be decided

The three and five-storey block in South Walks was built by the former West Dorset District Council in 2012 and attracted criticism before the first brick was laid.

Campaigners were angry about breaching the town’s historic Walks, once a Roman defensive wall, to make way for a new road - but were mostly concerned about the cost of more than £9m – compounded when the sale of the former council offices in High West Street failed to reach its predicted sale price.

The offices have been empty since the first pandemic lockdown with the council deciding it would be better to move staff not working from home to County Hall, a site less likely to be suitable for re-development.

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Only the council offices in South Walks are likely to be converted to flats with the adjoining library and learning centre continuing to operate.

Removals taking place at South Walks House last week

The next area planning committee, which will meet online on Tuesday 24th, is being recommended to approve the conversion of the building to twenty one-bed flats, 19 two-bed and 2 three-bed. They vary in size from 50 square metres to 86 square metres which the council says comply with nationally described space standards.

Only three objections have been made in response to the proposal – commenting that the use of the site for homes is not in the best interests of the community, the impact of additional traffic and the waste of council taxes to build the offices in the first place.

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Said objector Marjorie Dench: “This is a complete and utter waste of our council taxes, the council should not be allowed to change the use and sell off as flats. If this goes ahead it will reduce yet another car park and put strain on resources. Every council tax payer in Dorchester should receive a share of the sale price if this goes ahead. Completely absurd.”

Another letter came from John Watmore on behalf of Beech Court residents, opposite South Walks House.

He says that by only allowing 41 parking space on site it is likely that some new residents of the flats and their visitors will try and park on local streets, including outside Beech Court, as council staff have done in the past to avoid paying parking fees.

The council has argued that if there is a need for extra parking it could be accommodated in nearby car parks, including the adjoining Old Market car park.

A transport statement claims the building is well-sited, adjoining town centre car parks and shops and on, or near bus routes, and should result a decrease in car movements in the area, compared to the previous, council, use.