Plans have been submitted to turn an office block into flats.

An application submitted to Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) calls for offices at the town’s Southgate House to be replaced by 65 properties.

The 15-storey building in St George’s Way has been selected for development by the council’s planning department. It already has 50 existing car parking spaces.

The changes would take place on every floor but the seventh – which is currently used by the Redeemed Christian Church of God for religious services.

A document submitted alongside the application reads: “Southgate House has direct dual carriageway links to both junction 7 and 8 of the A1(M). The office block is close to the railway station, bus station and has extensive car parking that is easily accessible.

“There are 50 parking spaces on site and given the site’s excellent sustainable characteristics such a provision for 65 apartments is deemed appropriate. It has already been demonstrated in the buildings use as an office block that all the parking bays are accessible at all times.”

The application is set to be presented to SBC’s planning and development committee in June. If the plans are approved, it is intended that the flats will be available for use by May 2016.