Former Book People HQ to become flats

The former Book People office building in Catteshall Lane can be turned into homes, Waverley planners have said.

The company closed down in March, and its former HQ, Salisbury House in Weyside Park, has been marketed with a guide price of £2,750,000.

It is on a small industrial estate where several other office blocks have been converted for residential use, or their owners have obtained permission to do so.

Permission was granted in June to convert the building into 19 one-bedroom flats: the new plans will see the building converted into 23 flats. The 46 parking spaces formerly used by office workers will be retained.

Waverley's environmental health officer has warned, however, that any future applications for gardens at the site would require contaminated land assessments and conditions due to the historic use of the land as an industrial factory from the 1940s to 1980s.

Planning officials have also added a condition that each dwelling must be provided with a fast-charge electric vehicle charging point, and secure cycle parking must also be provided.