WHAT was the town’s only independent music venue and bar in the Top of The Town could be transformed.

A planning application has been lodged to allow The Sanctuary in London Street to be used as a shop or for financial and/ or professional services.

The application put to the borough council states that the proposal “solely relates to the change of use of the building and does not involve any external change” and “the aim of the application is to provide a more flexible use for marketing the site.”

The planning statement prepared by Bell Cornwall Chartered Town Planners reads: “Economically the site will allow for the continued active use of the building, in a retail use maintaining the character of the area.

“Socially, the application will enable the delivery of a new shop/service into the area.

“Depending on the type of business that ends up occupying the premises this could have benefits in terms of offering a range and choice of services/facilities/shops.”

The Sanctuary closed its doors in November last year and has been vacant since. The venue was the town’s only dedicated independent music venue for many years and provided a platform for many up-and-coming bands coming through the town.

From the 1940s through to the 1960s it was the site of the grocer’s store of David Greig.

The DG initials and his emblematic thistles have survived numerous changes through the years and remain clearly visible at either end of the shop front.

The applicant believes that the “change of use will maintain the viability and vitality of the town centre, with the property remaining in a retail use. London Street contains a number of A4 and A3 premises, which means the loss of this particular property in this use will not affect the overall supply of these types of premises.”

The site is in Basingstoke’s town centre conservation area, but the application states that only “minor” changes would need to be made, which would not affect the structure of the building.

The planning statement adds: “Given the limited amount of changes and the fact the change of use will result in the building remaining within a retail use there will be no harm to the conservation area.

“The overall external appearance of the building will remain unchanged as a result of the change of use.

“The character of the area will be unaffected by this proposal and the appearance of the building is not going to change, which will not affect the wider frontages in London Street.”

A decision is set to be made on the plan by July 11.

For more information on the planning application and to comment, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search for the reference code 18/01413/FUL.