The developer of a huge office block in Swindon above a car showroom already has permission to turn the four storeys above the ground floor into flats.

But now Chain House Ltd wants to change the appearance of the outside of Stanley House, In Bramble Road in Elgin, to allow that conversion to be made.

The company will put seven apartments per floor in the four levels above the Infinity car showroom on the ground floor – 16 of the flats will have one bedroom and 12 will have two.

Chain House has put in a request for permission to change the windows, adding more windows to the elevations of the building to bring more light into the flats, which are currently empty offices,

Its application says: “The current building is of aesthetically poor quality. The proposed alterations to the external envelope, specifically the windows, will enhance the building's appearance.

“The replacement windows will have a high-quality finish and provide abundant natural light and vista to all habitable rooms and their occupants.

It adds: “The proposed alterations would enhance the appearance of the building, the site and the general appearance along with the visual amenities of the immediate area.

“It also enriches the social and economic benefits of the area. The external alterations will help to maintain the building’s future longevity and assist with the reuse of this under-utilised site.”

The company says the new windows would be of sufficient quality that they red ice the building’s energy consumption and says: “The conversion would reduce the need for new materials, and would therefore minimise the environmental impact associated with the production and transportation of these materials.”

A decision on the application is expected by late January.

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