The owners of a disused office block have been fined more than £13,000 as developers plan to convert it into 132 apartment.

The former Fujitsu site, on London Road in Stevenage, has twice been occupied by travellers - once in January and again in May.

Stevenage Borough Council served five notices to owner Western European Investments Ltd demanding they make repairs to prevent future break-ins and clean the site of waste. The council issued the maximum fine of £12,500 and ordered them to pay £1,000 towards legal cost and a £250 victim surcharge.

Councillor John Gardner, the council’s executive member for environment and regeneration, said, “I’m pleased with the court’s decision. For months we have been trying to get the owners to secure the building. As this case shows, as a council we will not tolerate owners leaving their buildings unsecured and will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those who refuse to comply with our notices.”

Developers have now revealed plans to convert building, renamed Six Hills House, into 52 one-bedroom and 80 two-bedroom flats.

Leader of Stevenage Borough Council Sharon Taylor said: “The council has been seriously concerned about the state of this building for some time and, although we can’t yet comment on any long-term plans, we are looking to develop the building properly for the future.”