DEVELOPERS have put forward a plan to turn a derelict area of Basingstoke previously set aside for industrial use into the site of more than 300 flats.

The site, sandwiched between Eli Lilly and Theodore Alexander on Kingsclere Road, has been unused for years.

Under the Local Plan, it is set aside for employment use. But Morley Fund Management, which owns the land, has not been able to find anybody to move onto it. The company now wants to build several blocks of flats, housing a total of 333 one and two-bedroomed apartments.

Roy Thompson, head of planning and transport at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, explained the council has a difficult decision to make on whether the site should be released for residential use.

"The council will have to carefully consider the application in balancing the need to retain employment land against the need for further housing, especially given the location of the site, which is near to the town centre," he said.

The plans are at an early stage and exact heights have not been given but the idea is to have three-storey buildings next to the road, in keeping with the houses on the other side. As the site slopes downward towards the railway line, the plan is to use the natural gradient to hide taller buildings. Blocks in the centre of the site would be four or five storeys, with the main building at the rear standing at about eight storeys.

Councillor George Hood, the deputy leader of Basingstoke council, whose Norden ward covers the site, said he supports the idea but is concerned about traffic issues.

He said: "It is good news that something might happen on the site but access is something we have to look at. There will be a lot more traffic and we need to ensure the infrastructure is in place to deal with this."

First published: Friday, April 22, 2005