A FORMER town centre eatery which is now sitting empty could be transformed into a set of “affordable” flats under a new plan.

A new planning application has gone in to change the former Mango Grove site, in London Road, in the Top of The Town, into ten flats.

London Street Properties Limited is looking to to change the ground and first floor areas of the building into two lots of five flats, consisting of a mixture of one and two-bedroom properties.

The site has been vacant since 2016, with the top-floor office space originally earmarked for development in 2015.

However, prior to the conversion to restaurant in 2008, the whole site was used for office purposes.

The planning statement with the application reads: “The premises have been advertised as a restaurant without any interest.

“The failure of the ground floor restaurant also suggests either that this is not a good location for the restaurant trade, or more likely there is too much competition in this part of London Street where there are many units plus the Red Lion Hotel adding to the competition.”

Due to the location of the proposal, there is no

private parking allocated to the site.

However, the applicant states in the application that town centre living without a vehicle is becoming ‘a popular choice’, with access to the building being made available through Feathers Yard.

The application states that the development would offer up affordable accommodation as well as minimum disturbance compared to a new build.

The planning statement adds: “The social role would be met by virtue of the provision of ten additional small flats at the affordable end of the market, for which there is an undoubted strong demand, particularly in an area where resident’s health, cultural and social needs can be met on the doorstep.

“The re-use of a building rather than a new build, represents a sustainable use of natural resources and the flats will be constructed to the highest standards of insulation to minimise fuel consumption.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is currently due to decide on the plan by July 31.

For more information on the plan visit planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search for the code18/01270/FUL.