TWO homes and an art gallery with studios and workshops have been approved for the western half of a listed school site in Bridport.

Dorset Council has approved the plans for the development at the former St Marys School in Gundry Lane which dates from 1876.

The development, for Centaur Gallery (Fine Art) Ltd will include a garden courtyard, parking spaces and a bin and bike store with the business promising to ensure repairs and renovations remain in keeping with the historic fabric of the grade 2 listed building.

A one-bed flat will be created as part of the development by removing some walls and adding others, with a three-bedroom home created in the central wing with a mezzanine floor above the bedrooms.

Bridport Town Council welcomed the proposals saying it was pleased an historic building would be brought back into productive use.

An existing nursery which uses the eastern part of the building is not included in the application and will be retained.