Changes have been approved to create five flats at a Bridport town centre building, within the conservation area.

The site had originally been given approval for six flats with a section of the ground floor being used to create an entrance lobby.

Dorset Council has now agreed a change of use application for the Georgian corner building of 11 East Street and 3 Downes Street. It says although reduced in number the new proposals allow for an improvement in quality for each of the homes with a better arrangement than the original for the storage of bins and bicycles.

Bridport Town Council raised no objection to the latest conversion plans for the building which is thought to date back to 1795.

The planning application, from a London company, asked for a change of use to the listed 11 East Street to convert two of the upper floors from offices to residential and to make alterations to the ground floor frontage to create a new entrance for the flats. The existing shop fronts will remain in place and the main fabric of the building is not expected to be altered, apart from the addition of new vents.