Cherwell: Twenty offices to become housing under new law, says Lambert Smith Hampton

In the first scheme of its kind to be approved by Cherwell District Council, 20 offices are to be converted into residential housing in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. 

Acting on behalf of Lakesmere Developments, national commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has obtained planning consent from Cherwell District Council for the conversion.

The move follows the recent change in government legislation, which enables office developments to be converted into residential use from May 30, 2013.

Located at 1-20 Lakesmere Close in Kidlington, the offices total 1,400 sq m in size and will be converted into 18 houses and four apartments.

The application is the first of its kind to be dealt with by Cherwell District Council and resulted in the council’s first approval, under the new initiative, to provide much-needed housing stock for the area. The scheme satisfies environmental criteria and the development must commence by May 30, 2016.

Head of LSH’s Oxford office, David Gilbert, said: “We are delighted to have worked with the District Council to achieve a satisfactory outcome under a change of legislation, of which there was no previous experience, or precedent.

“The new legislation aims to ensure the very best use is made of empty and under-used buildings and gives office owners the chance to offer developers the opportunity to transform outdated buildings into housing in circumstances where it would otherwise remain empty.”