A LARGE office block could be transformed into 48 flats with new plans submitted this week.

A planning application has been lodged with Basildon Council to see Riverside House, on Lower Southend Road, Wickford become homes.

A bid to turn the same site into 50 flats was thrown out at the start of the year.

The application was blocked by the council as the application was criticised for the “limited details submitted.”

The council also raised issue with the application applying for change of use from offices to residential, pointing out that the bottom floor is currently registered for retail use.

Since initial plans were thrown out by the council, a separate planning application to see the use of one bottom floor unit changed from retail to either a restaurant or cafe were approved.

The flats would be spread across three floors.

The separate change of use plans received the council’s backing in February.

When the homes plan was initially pitched last year, it was claimed the office block is “perfect for redevelopment” as it was only developed in 1988.

Ward councillor for the area Peter Holliman, stated the bottom floor of the building stood vacant for roughly five years when plans were outlined for a restaurant, adding this could be a win-win situation as it is a brownfield site – rather than a greenfield site being developed.