A BASINGSTOKE eyesore is set to be demolished over the next two months to make way for new trade units and a drive-thru restaurant.

As previously reported by The Gazette, The Strathclyde Pension Fund, administered by Glasgow City Council, has been given planning permission to demolish Telford House, in Hamilton Close, Houndmills.

The fund applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for permission to demolish the building and replace it with five trade units and a drive-thru restaurant, in March last year.

It originally applied for planning permission in July 2013 but the plans were withdrawn in November 2013 because “a number of highway issues remained unresolved”.

In June last year, planning officers at the borough council gave the go-ahead to the revised scheme, which is set to provide 51 full-time jobs. The borough council owns the freehold of the site.

The inside of the building, which was built in the 1970s, is currently being gutted and the final stages of the demolition should be completed over the next two months.

Kevin O’Connor, director of investment management at DTZ, which is acting on behalf of the pension fund, told The Gazette: “It is not the prettiest building. It has served its purpose and it has functioned. It was fine for the market they were built in but there are enough better offices in the town centre in Basingstoke.

“We have planning permission for it and we will be marketing it shortly. One of the big steps was getting planning permission last year and starting the demolition process.”

It is not known who will occupy the trade units and the drive-thru at this stage as talks are still ongoing to find tenants to enter an agreement before the restaurant and units are built.

Mr O’Connor added: “It is still subject to discussions with the freeholder of the site. We are long-term leaseholders and we are still discussing various aspects of the development so that we are all in agreement with the borough council.”