ALTON'S Wey River House could provide an opportunity for the construction of 20 new flats in the centre of the town.
An application has been submitted to East Hampshire planners by London-based developers, Latent Land Limited, which, if given the go ahead, would see the conversion of the High Street property, to provide a shop with 20 flats above.
The proposal would include the addition of a third floor and change of use from storage and office to allow the second and third floors to be used for residential purposes. In addition, the building would benefit from a rear extension to accommodate a ground-floor shop.
The building was formerly used by, among others, the DSS and the NFU. It stands next to the gap site on Crown Hill which is currently being developed by Surrey Free Inns, in the popular Litten Tree style. It will include ten social housing flats for rent on the upper floors, to help alleviate the need for affordable housing in Alton which is said to have the highest housing need in East Hampshire.