Permission has been granted for the demolition of the former St John Brigade Hall in Rax Lane, Bridport, to be replaced by a terrace of three homes.

The single-storey building is surrounded by larger buildings, including the Telephone Exchange, a church and a dance school, which was once a cinema, all within the town's Conservation Area.

Bridport Town Council did not object to the application, although commented that the proposals for cosmetic chimneys were "superfluous, irrelevant and in current times anachronistic".

Dorset Council has been told that the new homes will be set back from Rax Lane, behind a front garden area with a stone wall and pedestrian gated access, and a stepped terrace at the front of each property.

On the ground floor each new home will have an entrance hall with an open plan living/dining/kitchen area and small utility room. On the first floor there will be two bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms.

The buildings have been designed to appear similar to other, older cottages in the area.