Council buys Dorchester church for £905k to demolish

Dorchester Community Church was built in 1903 and is in need of repair

Councillors have decided to buy a church for £905,000 so they can demolish it to make way for a town centre development.

Dorchester Community Church in Dorchester will be knocked down so the next phase of the £60m Charles Street development can go ahead.

West Dorset District Council's executive committee agreed spending the sum to buy the church.

The purchase includes £205,000 towards building a new church in Poundbury.

The trustees of the church said the threat of being moved had left it in limbo for 30 years.

'Church pleased'

Tim Westwood, chair of church trustees, said: "It is a relief; the church is pleased and what's offered is the opportunity to move to a new location which will enable us to expand."

The first phase of the developments saw new council buildings, a library and an adult learning centre built.

The next phase of the development includes 27 shops including Marks & Spencer and Waitrose stores and 67 apartments.

Work is due to start in the autumn and is expected to be completed by spring 2018.