Changes could be made to an historic Dorchester property, if Dorset Council planners agree to the proposals.

Alterations could be made behind the traditional Regency shopfront of the South Street building – once the home of the Abbey National Building Society.

The site at 3 Cornhill, known as Abbey House, also has a longer history, once being the base for the town's tax collectors, who also doubled up as saddlers.

A plaque on the front of the building marks the connection to the father and son team.

More recent uses of the premises have included a shop selling bags.

A planning request for the grade II listed site seeks to reduce the commercial area of the building to create a single bedroom flat to the rear of the ground floor, with a courtyard behind.

The application comes from DAP Real Estate Ltd, submitted by Stalbridge architect Peter Eldridge. If approved, it will see the commercial space halved in size, although the historic timber and glazed shopfront will remain in place.

It is believed the property was originally a townhouse, the ground floor converted to commercial use in the late 18th or early 19th century. It has been on the national list as a building of special historic or architectural interest since May 1950 and sits within the Dorchester Conservation Area.

In 2020 planning permission was given to convert the first and second floors to self-contained flats with access from a side door, which will not be affected by the planning request. The building also has a three-room basement.

The new proposal is to have a small commercial unit on the ground floor to the rear of the shop/office area, measuring 34 square metres with a studio apartment behind of 46 square metres – seven square metres larger than the minimum housing standard for a studio flat, with a private courtyard to the rear and access via a new door.

The studio flat would include a hall, bathroom, sleeping area and living room with a kitchen area.

Said Mr Eldridge in the application to Dorset Council: "The changes proposed are largely internal… The proposal respects the historic building and setting and retains a commercial ground floor use.

"The proposal would result in no harm to the special interest of the listed building, and the proposals are considered to preserve the character or appearance of the listed building.

"The residential accommodation would provide adequate living space for the inhabitants of the apartment, and there would be no adverse impact on living conditions of neighbouring dwellings.

The location is inherently sustainable and the application makes a small but nevertheless positive contribution to the commercial and housing supply within an accessible location."

The full application can be found on the Dorset Council planning website by searching reference number 2023/01204 and public comments are open until May 27.