Firm behind Stevenage office revamp plan fights off compulsory strike-off
An artist's impression of how the redeveloped Bank House in Stevenage would look. Picture: S. Ilan Architectural Workshop - Credit: Archant
Developers proposing to revamp a Stevenage office building and add a six-storey extension last week had to present accounts after their firm was threatened with compulsory strike-off.
Companies House papers show Good for Food Ltd – which has submitted a plan to Stevenage Borough Council to redevelop Bank House in Primett Road – was last week gazetted for compulsory strike-off.
This action was discontinued on Saturday after full accounts up to August 31 last year were presented. At that time the firm owed its directors, brothers Lewis and Wayne Selt, £2.42 million and £2.17 million respectively.
Asked by the Comet about the now-discontinued compulsory strike-off action, Lewis Selt did not comment.
Barnet-based Good for Food Ltd acquired the site freehold and existing three-storey building in February 2016 for £3.25 million. The Selt brothers’ Selt Property Group lists Bank House on its website as one of its developments.
Good for Food Ltd’s plan would see floorspace at Bank House more than quadrupled across seven floors of offices, rather than the current two. The scheme would also see 422 square metres set aside for restaurant or café use at ground level.
The 0.58-acre site currently houses leased offices for Lloyds Bank, CareShield and the Comet’s parent company Archant. Good for Food Ltd acquired the building with the help of a Lloyds mortgage on it.
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As of 2016, the next lease break for each company in Bank House was in 2020. Lewis Selt said on Monday that he would be speaking to each of the three firms about the plans.
This is not the first time in recent years it has been proposed to redevelop Bank House.
The borough council already gave the green light in 2015 for the building to be turned into a housing block containing 44 studio apartments, deciding no prior approval was needed.
But the firm proposing this scheme, Bank House Stevenage Ltd, then went into voluntary liquidation in February 2016.
The borough council has set September 14 as a target decision date for Good for Food Ltd’s Bank House planning application. A neighbour consultation is open until August 10.
To have your say on the plans, go to the planning portal at stevenage.gov.uk and look up reference 18/00416/FPM.
