A former day nursery in Bridport town centre has been given planning consent to be converted into a six-bed home.

The owners of the 62 West Street property, close to Waitrose, had asked Dorset Council planners to approve the change of use which will include a new access and two parking spaces.

Most of the alterations to the grade 2 listed building, which is within the town conservation area, will be internal although some outbuildings and rear extensions will be removed and blocked windows on the frontage restored.

The building had started life as a home but was converted to a public house in the 19th century until its conversion to a day nursery in 1995.

The site is on the corner of West Street and St Michael’s Lane with a planned additional parking space, adding to the one already there, to be accessed off the Lane.

A report to Dorset Council, prepared by Palmers, which own the site, said that the property has been marketed for commercial use for two years, but has failed to find anyone to take it on which has prompted the decision to convert it back into a home.

Bridport Town Council supported the application with no other public comments lodged with Dorset Council about the plans, although the conservation officer said there were concerns about the demolition of a section of the boundary wall to create a car parking space.