No Parking, Six Flats, Dozens of Objections: Weymouth’s Wyke Regis Methodist Church Approved for Homes

• Dorset Council approved converting Wyke Regis Methodist Church into six homes
• The plan has four one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats
• The church has been unused since September 2021
• Neighbours, the civic society and the town council objected over parking

A former Methodist church in Weymouth will be converted into six homes despite objections from neighbours, local democracy reporter Trevor Bevins reported in February 2025.

Dorset Council approved plans to convert Wyke Regis Methodist Church on Portland Road, next to a recreation ground and opposite local shops, into four one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats in the main church building and its adjoining hall. The church has been unused since September 2021.

Dozens of neighbours, Weymouth Civic Society and Weymouth Town Council objected, mostly over parking and traffic. “We are concerned at the lack of parking proposed for this development. This area of Wyke is already heavily congested,” the civic society said. One neighbour wrote: “I really can’t believe that this is even being considered again. Points raised previously have still not been addressed.”

Dorset Highways did not object: “Whilst the development proposals make no provision for on-site parking, it is considered acceptable due to the site’s location.”

The Wyke Regis decision shows how an empty church and hall can quickly produce small, affordable flats. For Jamaican churches, parking and traffic are often the main planning concerns. Locations near shops and public transport can make a conversion easier to approve.

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