A FORMER gourmet food and drink business near Sherborne which supplied businesses throughout the region is hoping to create three homes on its site.

Trencherman’s at The Old Dairy, Over Compton, between St Michael’s Church and the Manor House, has long been associated with quality food and drink in Dorset and beyond, supplying fine food and drinks to the trade and people who paid a fee to become members.

It is now asking to convert the food and drink shop and a kitchen and food preparation area to the rear of the site into homes – creating two 2-bed homes and one 3-bed, with seven parking spaces.

A planning agent says the new use will generate far less traffic than when the business was in operation and is a good  use for the site, more in keeping with the mainly residential surrounding area.

Several neighbours have raised concerns about the proposals including what they say is a lack of adequate parking and poor access to the site, with claims that other residential developments in the area have been refused. Several also called on the council to ensure that if changes are made a large tree will be protected.

Over Compton parish council says that while most neighbours appreciate that something needs to happen to the buildings, rather than let them deteriorate, there is concern that the level of use might be an overdevelopment with, potential, issues over access to the site.

The application has been made under permitted development rules which, if not successful, could result in a full planning consent having to be made.