RTI Estates Ltd, part of Dorchester-based Redtale Holdings, is planning Dorchester’s first open-market build-to-rent project by converting Vespasian House into 37 apartments for up to 144 people. The £11m project is part of RTI’s ongoing regeneration of the historic Barrack Quarter. The development will include one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses, providing high-quality, flexible rental accommodation.
The conversion comes as NHS organisations currently based in Vespasian House are exploring relocation options.
The project follows RTI’s previous developments in the Barrack Quarter, including key worker apartments for NHS staff and the conversion of former stores into townhouses and apartments.
Since 2013, national policies have facilitated the conversion of commercial properties into homes, with over 100,000 new homes delivered in England. The easing of criteria, especially post-pandemic, has further encouraged such conversions
