SPECSAVERS has been given permission for changes to a South Street, Dorchester vacant shop to facilitate its move across the street.

The business is moving from its existing site, diagonally across the street to take on the former M&Co shop at 43 South Street, previously part of the town's main Post Office, a listed building.

Specsavers say the move will give them more consulting space and improve the service to its customers.

The changes, approved by Dorset Council, include new signs and a new shopfront; internal changes to the building and the replacement of condenser units on the roof.

Specsavers, like some other businesses in the area, was closed for several weeks because of a fire at the nearby Gorge Café, which is still closed and surrounded by security fencing.

Specsavers say the move across the street was being planned prior to the fire.

Amie Ebsworth, retail director, Dorchester Specsavers said: "Our move to a new has been in the pipeline for sometime.

"The new store will allow us to increase the number of testing rooms, better accommodating our growing optical and hearing care provision and ultimately better supporting the eye and hearing health needs of the local community.

"We're aiming for a move sometime in Summer 2025, and we'll keep customers old and new in the loop with more specific details nearer the time."