A FRESH bid to change the former home of a pharmaceutical manufacturer into homes has emerged.

As previously reported by the Gazette, permission had been applied for last year to convert the former Shire pharmaceutical base, in Unity Place, Chineham, into 275 residential properties.

However, the application was withdrawn.

But now a new application has been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to change the use of the building.

The new submission has reduced the number of homes that is sought for the building, from 275 to 240.

The site is in the heart of the business park, but the developers believe despite companies operating around the homes, there would not be an adverse effect on any new residents.

A planning statement presented to the borough council read: “Regarding the surrounding actual uses close to the site, it is apparent that there are no uses around this site which would create any issues of noise to the level where significant adverse impact on future residential use.

“The proposed development represents solely the change of use of the existing building which is presently in office use and no major ground works are required and as such no anticipated land contamination issues should arise.”

Since the initial application was submitted, extensive land contamination risk assessments and flood risk assessments have been carried out.

In consultation carried out, the developer has said that the site would not be vulnerable to flooding and would be suitable for housing.

Shire, which was founded in the town more than 30 years ago, took the decision to leave Basingstoke after announcing it would open a new office in Paddington in 2016.

This put more than 250 jobs at risk as the firm relocated out of Basingstoke. The company officially left the site at the end of 2017.

At the time of the closure of the Basingstoke office, a number of jobs were moved to Dublin in order to save costs by sharing services already in place.

The site has been vacant since then.

For more information and to comment on the plan go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search for 19/00717/GPDOFF.