A BASILDON councillor has raised concerns over plans to turn another office block in Basildon into flats.

Chelmsford-based Stockplace has applied for prior approval to change the use of Phoenix Place, in Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, into 27 flats.

Government changes to planning laws mean that a full planning application is not needed when an office block is being converted to flats.

It is believed that the office block is currently vacant.

The changes have meant a number of applications have been submitted to turn town centre office blocks into flats.

These include plans to convert Regent House, in The Gore, into 106 flats.

Permission has already been granted for it to be turned into 98 flats.

Similarly, Northgate House, above the former BHS store in the town centre has been given permission to be turned into 87 apartments.

An attempt to gain permission to up the number of flats in the building to 165 was rejected by Basildon Council and an appeal against the decision was later withdrawn.

A planning application is also still being considered to convert some of the shops in the Eastgate Business Centre, Southernhay, into 33 flats.

Labour councillor for St Martin’s Ward, David Burton-Sampson, said he was concerned about the lack of affordable houses being built in the area.

He added: “Obviously we need more affordable housing in the borough and what these permitted developments sometimes lack is affordable housing.

“Often we see the small rabbit hutch that we have seen in some of the other developments.”

He added that he also had some concerns about this particular development and its location in the middle of an industrial area.

He said: “I would like to see the level of parking with this one, especially as it is not in a residential area.To plan a residential development of 27 flats in the middle of an industrial area seems odd.”