PLANS to convert a ten-storey office block in Bournemouth into more than 150 flats have been submitted.

Property developer Ameriscot Ltd has applied to BCP Council for prior approval to allow the formal change of use of the Ocean 80 building in Holdenhurst Road.

It said the conversion from offices – which have been used by the likes of Lloyds and Health-on-Line – to residential purposes has been proposed following a fall in demand for formal workspaces, a trend accelerated by the pandemic and an increase in home working.

The Holdenhurst Road building is the largest owned by the Bournemouth-based firm.

In 2018, the developer won planning permission for a two-storey foyer extension, including a café and gym, but this was not used and the permission for the project has since expired.

Last week, it submitted its application to reconfigure the building into 158 one-bedroom flats to BCP Council.

“Approximately 20 per cent” of the homes would be designed for two people, it said in documents put forward to the council.

It added that all of the existing basement and surface level parking spaces would be kept for used by would-be residents.

A statement lodged with its plans says the conversion was brought forward due to falling demand for traditional workspace.

“Given the tumultuous events of 2020, and longer term behavioural shifts in the office and hospitality markets, permission is being sought for change of use to residential,” it says.

The statement adds that the “key” to attracting investors to join in on build-to-rent schemes was scale and that this had been shown in other developments in the area and was supported by the council.

It says the potential increase in noise created as a result of the change was “compatible” with the type of development nearby and that it would be feasible to carry out the change of use while giving natural light to all of the flats’ habitable rooms.

It said its application complied with planning criteria and that “there are no reasons”  why it should not be approved.

BCP Council planning officers will consider Ameriscot Ltd's plans in the coming months