STREAMLINED conversions of offices into homes would effectively be banned in parts of Basingstoke under proposals being explored.

Basing View and Chineham, including the Chineham and Hampshire International business parks, are the two areas being looked at where an effective ban could be brought in.

Currently, developers have the right to convert offices and some other industrial buildings into homes without full planning consent.

However, local authorities can introduce an ‘Article 4 Direction’ to suspend these permitted development rights.

And that is what Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has looked into in a report to be discussed at a meeting tonight.

The report argues the importance of office areas in Basing View and Chineham could mean they should not be diluted by having housing within them.

The report reads: “Based upon the large amount of currently vacant office stock and the economic evidence set out in the report, a blanket Article 4 Direction across the whole borough would be difficult to justify.

“However, it is considered that an Article 4 direction could be justified on a selective basis to help ensure that good quality stock is protected.”

The suggestion is at an early stage as the main aim of the report is to look at the effect permitted development has had in the borough.

The foreword to the report by Councillor Mark Ruffell, cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, read: “If redundant commercial buildings can be converted to provide homes then this is potentially a good thing. However, questions immediately arise concerning the standards of accommodation and the lack of contribution to community facilities and open space. I am open to persuasion as to whether there is clear evidence that we should present to HM Government that this policy needs an element of tweaking or counterbalancing so that the homes that are created now remain viable and sustainable in the decades to come.”

According to the report, since 2013 to the start of this year, under permitted development, 1,070 new homes have been given permission, with 287 delivered as of March last year. Over the last two years, 28 per cent of new homes in the borough have come via permitted development laws on industrial use land, including 82 per cent of all one-bedroom flats and 53 per cent of two-bedroom flats.

The report also indicates the borough council has potentially lost out on more than £1million in the past two financial years, as permitted development applications do not require developers to contribute to infrastructure such as community facilities.