A Dorchester nursing home has been given planning consent for an extension to provide additional space for residents.

The Chestnut House Nursing Home at Charlton Down, on the site of the former Herrison Hospital, is to expand on its southern side to offer more leisure and social space.

The 85-bed home on three floors runs east to west with a partly enclosed central courtyard.

Owners, Country Court Care Ltd, say the building is lacking day space and will extend a spur which currently projects into the courtyard area.

Agents for the business say the extension will increase the ground floor day space to 107m², the first-floor day space to 95m², with a winter garden of 12m², and increase the second-floor day space to 76m². A new stair well will provide access between the ground floor and first floor areas.

In total the extension will add around 208square metres to the development and will be built in complementary materials to the existing building with generous levels of glazing to improve natural light.

Dorset Council's planning team decided the application would not be out of keeping with the conservation area and would not impact on Herrison House, a listed building.

Said a report on the proposed development: "It is considered that the extension would represent no harm to the conservation area of Herrison House as it has been designed to be in character with the existing building and modestly proportioned. Furthermore, the materials are to match which would blend with the existing building limiting the impact on the conservation area and setting of Herrison House."

Charminster Parish Council supported the application.