AN ABANDONED office building could be converted into flats – something that has been called a “no brainer”.

St Martin’s Place in Chalvey – in which Slough Children’s Services Trust was once based – could be transformed into 64 flats, all of which will be affordable housing.

The Trust moved out to the Observatory House last Monday.

Officers recommended they should reconfigure the building under permitted development plus rights – which means they will ensure the development has good daylight and ventilation standards, and the rooms are high quality as well as meeting the optional requirement of having sufficient space.

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The site has 136 basement parking spaces – but 100 of those will be allocated to the Ice Arena, leaving a ratio of 0.56 spaces per unit.

Fin Garvey, head of property services, said this was deemed acceptable given St Martin’s Place is a 15 minute walk away from the town centre, there’s a cycle hub directly outside the site, nearby bus routes and a train station, and future residents could use the electric car hub at Montem.

Councillor Pavitar K. Mann (Labour: Britwell and Northborough), lead member for planning and regulations, said: “On the face of it there’s so many positives to this. The quick conversion, the fact that it’s 100 per cent affordable.

“In some ways, it’s a no brainer.”

Lead members agreed at a cabinet meeting on February 1 (Monday) for officers to create a business case for the plan.

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With the Ice Arena hosting both Slough’s and Bracknell’s hockey team, the leader of opposing Conservatives councillor Wayne Strutton (Haymill & Lynch Hill) was concerned about the high demand for parking whenever a game is on and how that will be managed.

The leader of the council, councillor James Swindlehurst (Labour: Cippenham Green), said the Ice Arena has enough parking for matches – but the 100 spaces at the basement parking area is for overspill for large scale events.

Mr Garvey added the underground parking area has a barrier control system and they will allocate and manage those 100 spaces for event-based parking only.

If the scheme goes ahead as planned, work will be commenced on the site this August with construction completed by November 2022.

The business case will go back to cabinet in April for approval.