PLANS to continue to operate a microbrewery at a Christchurch shopping village have been approved.

Drop the Anchor applied to Christchurch Borough Council for permission to continue to run its venture on the upper floor of the centre in Bridge Street.

The brewery has been running since May 2017, however the correct use for the premises was never obtained.

Christchurch Borough Council's planning department approved the application under delegated powers.

The approved mixed use, which includes tasting area. was given a condition stating it expired on October 18, 2019, in accordance with the change of use permission given to the ground floor of the building last year.

A report by officer Kevin Chilvers says: "The proposed change of use is considered to result in an acceptable form of development.

"It is considered unlikely that the proposal would result in any significant harm to the vitality and viability of the town centre and having regard to the temporary consent for the retail use on the ground floor it is considered appropriate to limit the consent for the brewery to a similar period of time and a condition is therefore recommended to reflect same time period."