AN office block and warehouse could be knocked down and replaced with 22 flats.

The proposal, submitted to Bournemouth council, would see the buildings at 71 to 81 Seabourne Road demolished and replaced with a new two-and-a-half storey block.

The present building is used by GC Produce, a wholesale fruit, vegetable and potato merchant.

The application states: “The operators have taken the decision to relocate the business. The existing premises therefore will become vacant. The location of the site and nature of the buildings render them unattractive to other potential uses.”

All the flats would be one bedroom and 14 car parking spaces have been proposed for the site.

A statement submitted alongside the plans by GC Produce says: “The ground floor of the building is given over to undercroft parking and bin and cycle storage facilities. The building has been designed to retain an active frontage at ground floor level.

“Rather than a false or unarticulated façade at ground floor level the proposals provide three large shop front style windows which will be rented out for advertising purposes.

“This enables the site to retain a form of active frontage on to Seabourne Road.”

It concludes: “The proposals represent an effective re-use of a previously developed site, reflecting the scale and type of development within the street scene and will make a positive contribution to the character of the area whilst providing much needed housing.”

Comments can still be made about the plans through Bournemouth Borough Council’s planning portal.