A CHARMOUTH guesthouse has been given consent to change its status to residential with two self-contained holiday units

The grade 2 listed Abbots House in The Street, previously the Queens Arms, is thought to have been built in the 16th century by an Abbot of Forde Abbey.

The building has been run in the past as a restaurant with rooms and later as a bed and breakfast with four rooms. The restaurant use later changed to a monthly session.

One of the holiday units was created following a 2017 planning consent with the other unit on the ground floor within a 1930s extension, both to the rear of the main building.

Both units can be booked for a minimum of two days, according to application papers, with bookings managed via Air B&B.

The business had been offered for sale, most recently in 2017, but received no offers.

Said a letter to the council from a planning agent: “The seaside holiday market has changed considerably since the applicants started the Abbots House. There have always been some properties in Charmouth that have been available to rent for week-long holidays (weekends out of season), usually with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms. Now there are dozens of small apartments within people’s homes that cater for couples who wish to stay for 2 to 7 days. These are in direct competition with traditional hotel accommodation.

“The applicants have now decided it is the right time to reduce their work commitments and have now stopped the ‘pop-up’ restaurant and concentrate on the two self-contained studio units,” said a statement to Dorset Council in support of the changes.

It says there will be no exterior alterations to the building as a result of the change of use application.

Charmouth parish council had supported the changes saying that the diversification of the current business would allow it to operate more effectively.

A Dorset Council planning case officer, supporting the change, said: “The net effect of the proposal would be the loss of two bedspaces in the local tourist market, with the provision moving to a format of self-catering accommodation which is recognised as being increasingly popular.”