Flats plan for Methodist church rejected again

Dozens of people objected to plans to convert an old Methodist church

A plan to convert a former church that has been unused since 2021 has been dismissed for a second time.

Dorset Council rejected a bid to convert the former Methodist church in Portland Road in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, into six flats in January.

But developer London-based Capital Securities Ltd asked the Planning Inspectorate to review the council's decision.

It dismissed the appeal on Friday and said the current building was prominent and "positively contributes to the character and appearance of the area".

Planning inspector Alexander O'Doherty said the proposed changes would have been "unacceptable and harmful" and would have conflicted with the council's planning guidelines.

Other concerns raised by the council earlier this year included worries about bringing extra vehicles to an already congested area, as well as the size of the proposed flats.

Dozens of residents wrote to the authority to protest against the plan, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.