Planning permission has been given to convert a double garage at a house in Main Road for a nursery for a childminding business.

The application, for Dunlop House, Mosterton, also includes alterations to the building and a 1.5metre boundary wall.

Mosterton parish council supported the application although the parochial church council wrote to Dorset Council objecting to the change of use fearing that there could be an effect on shared access the house has with the church and St Mary House.

Concerns about car parking were also raised in another letter of objection, the writer also claiming that the Dunlop House was not suitable for a change to commercial use.

The works include a new door, new wooden trusses and insulating the ceiling as well as new windows and a new soft floor. A council report says that the conversion was already underway when a planning officer visited the site, prior to approval being granted.

The application says that the nursery and play area would be separated by 20m from the nearest neighbouring property, St Mary’s House to the south.

Operating hours will be restricted to 07.00-18.30 Monday to Friday and the maximum number of children to use the nursery at one time would be limited to 4.

A council report said the small numbers was unlikely to create any problems for neighbours: “Considering the dwelling is a large detached property that is adjacent to the extensive grounds of the church to the west and faces the large car park of the Admiral Hood public house to the east on the opposite side of the A3006, it is deemed that the development would be sufficiently separated from neighbouring dwellings to ensure no undue harm to amenity would occur.”

Highway officers said that the four parking spaces to be provided on the site should be adequate for the house and the business and raised no objections despite the concerns of the objectors.

A planning officer’s summary concluded: “The development would be acceptable in principle and the scale, siting and design of the proposal would have no undue impact on the character of the wider area, neighbouring amenity or highway safety and parking. The application would therefore be considered appropriate.”