Office space at a former telephone exchange could be replaced by six flats if planning permission is granted.

Exchange House in St Marys Lane, Upminster, has had a proposal to turn its inside offices into six homes, while erecting a single-storey mews building to the back which would contain a family dwelling.

Havering Council received the plans on June 26 and validated them on July 16. A decision date has been set to September 10.

The plans, P0901.24, also include the partial demolition of Exchange House's extension to facilitate the mews' construction.

In a heritage impact statement from consultancy HCUK Group on behalf of applicant Exchange House Property Limited, it was outlined the proposal seeks to convert the premises into six flats with a single family home in the building's grounds.

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Agent DHA Planning provided a planning statement to argue why the development should go ahead.

The agent argued that plans for seven homes were "much needed" in the area and that the site was conveniently located and a good use of brownfield land.

"The redevelopment of the site presents a unique opportunity to deliver development in a central location within Upminster on a brownfield site, bringing the non-designated heritage asset into active use."

Exchange House is described as a "heritage asset" of cultural significance to the Upminster area.

It was built in 1929 as a purpose-built telephone exchange designed to replace the first telephone exchange in Upminster's Station Road, the heritage statement added.

Exchange House was used to move telephone equipment in and out of the building, converted into offices later in the 20th century.

Much of the original building, built from yellow brick in a neo-classical character, remains.

The proposal, currently undecided, is not within a conservation area but rests in a major district centre.

DHA sought to reassure the council that the development would keep the architectural interest of the site.

"The development will retain the architectural interest of this prominent plot through its preservation of the attractive front facade.

"[It] will not result in any adverse impact on residential amenity, highways, trees, biodiversity, or visual amenity," it was added in the planning statement.