A former tea room has had a change of use agreed by local planners – from commercial to residential.

Beaminster Town Council had reluctantly supported the change of use commenting that it was sad to see a loss of a business in the town. The building, at 1 Hogshill Street, is sandwiched between a bakery and a café.

Up until 2014 it had been used as a tea room and a pizza parlour, but has been only in residential use for at least four years.

A report to Dorset Council says that attempts were made to sell the business in 2014 as a commercial property – but resulted in no interest. The permission formalises the change of use and legally alters the legal standing of the building back to its original use, as a home.