A FORMER military hospital in Dorchester could be developed to create three homes, if plans are approved.

Plans submitted to Dorset Council would see the Grade II-listed building, on the Marabout Industrial Estate, converted into two three-bed homes and one four-bed property.

The military hospital was formerly part of the Royal Horse Artillery Barracks, later the Marabout Barracks, built in 1799. It served as a hospital for the barracks until the mid-20th century.

The hospital was also used to treat those held at the prisoner of war camp at Dorchester which, in the spring of 1919, held 4,500 men.

The barracks ceased to be used in 1958 and the hospital has been empty for a number of years.

The building is on the Marabout Industrial Estate in Dorchester. Picture: Spase/Dorset Council

The application said: “The building was previously marketed for office use, however there was a lack of local demand, and commercial use is not viable due to the requirement for a goods entrance – which would be detrimental to the heritage asset.

“The requirement for offices has now diminished further, due to the pull of office units on Poundbury, and the increase of working from home post-pandemic.”

Previously, a plan to convert the building into five flats was approved, but now the intention is to create three houses.

The site was home to a POW camp during the First World War

The application said it was hoped ‘minimal intervention’ would be made to the ‘historic fabric’ of the building, with most work being carried out to the rear, a later addition.

“The three houses replace the five flats previously approved, with a desire to provide a better quality of housing to the local housing supply,” it added.

For more information on the plans, and to comment, log on to www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search for application reference P/FUL/2023/03689.