A PROPOSAL has been lodged for six new flats in Christchurch high street.

Oraco Properties Limited has sought prior approval for a change from retail to residential use at 38 High Street.

It comes in plans to introduce flats above and to the rear of the unit formerly home to M&Co.

The applicant said: “The proposal would only involve the change of use of a small proportion of the ground floor, at the rear of no.38, which was not formally used as ‘shop floor’.

“This area was predominantly used as staff areas, changing rooms and storage. good sized commercial units would be retrained fronting the High Street.

“Thus the proposal will not impact on the viability of the commercial centre nor sustainability of the conservation area.”

Oraco Properties also said the future occupants of the flats would experience 'no harmful impacts in terms of noise' from the surrounding commercial premises, being Specsavers and Lewis Manning.

A decision is yet to be made on the planning application.