82 St Mary Street and 24 St Thomas Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8PJ

Planning appeal 6004040 at 82 St Mary Street and 24 St Thomas Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8PJ (Dorset) was dismissed on 20 May 2026 by Inspector Hall R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether it has been demonstrated that the conversion of the upper floors to residential accommodation would be acceptable with respect to flood risk, with particular regard to the need to provide safe access and escape routes.

change of use of the ground floor from retail (Use Class E) to an adult gaming centre and the conversion of the upper floors into five flats with associated internal and external alterations, including the provision of residential access doors onto St Thoma s Street and formation of a ground floor lobby and floor bin storage area, and the retention of works carried out to internally partition 82 St Mary Street and 24 St Thomas Street from the neighbouring properties (81 St Mary Street and 23 St Thomas Street)

Authority: Dorset
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Hall R
Postcode: DT4 8PJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether it has been demonstrated that the conversion of the upper floors to residential accommodation would be acceptable with respect to flood risk, with particular regard to the need to provide safe access and escape routes
whether the proposal would preserve the Grade II listed buildings known as '81 and 82, St Mary Street' (Ref: 1147942) (Nos 81 and 82) and '24, St Thomas Street' (Ref: 1147955) (No 24), or any of the features of special architectural or historic interest that they possess

What decided it

The absence of demonstrated safe access and escape routes during flood events for the lifetime of the development, which conflicts with Policy ENV5(ii) and paragraph 181(e) of the Framework and provides a strong reason for refusal under footnote 7 to paragraph 11(d).

The considerable benefits of delivering five new residential units in a settlement with housing shortfall, economic benefits from conversion and commercial use, reuse of brownfield land, and conservation of listed buildings were outweighed by the significant weight attached to the fundamental importance of ensuring safe accommodation for future occupants in an area of demonstrated flood risk with inadequate safe access and escape routes.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy ENV5(ii) of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan (October 2015)Policy ENV4 of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local PlanPolicy W44 of the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 124Paragraph 181Paragraph 210Paragraph 212Paragraph 213Paragraph 215

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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The decision letter

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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.