Permission has been agreed for renovations and changes to Bridport's listed Grade II Electric Palace.

A consent for the alterations and repairs has now been approved after discussions with Dorset Council's listed buildings officer.

A planning officer report concluded that the plans, which were later amended, were acceptable for the listed building with the majority of the changes not being visible.

Dorset Council has now approved internal and external alterations and repairs to the first floor accommodation and the roof of the building which fronts onto South Street. The work includes the restoration of the large roof lights, which have been reduced in size over the years.

Said an agent's letter to the council: "The first floor above the cinema entrance was originally used as a public meeting space and even a doctor's surgery but for the last 50 years it has been used as two residential flats accessed by two staircases and entrances onto the street frontage.

"The plan form of the flats has frequently changed over the years and it is now proposed to make some additional changes to create bathrooms and different bedroom subdivisions and living area arrangements.

"The roof lights, which were once 2m x 3m have been reduced in recent years to two small openings. The framework of the original openings still exists and it is proposed to reinstate these dimensions and construct metal framed lantern lights above the openings."

Also agreed is a new roof covering on the, leaking, flat roof and re-building parts of the parapet wall on the roof which has become unstable in places, taking fibreglass-reinforced roof material up the inside of the wall to create a good seal.

Bridport Town Council and the Theatres Trust welcomed the changes when they considered them more than a year ago.