BASINGSTOKE council is tonight due to grant planning permission for the town's first "car-free" development.

Planning officers have recommended the council's development control committee grant permission for a block of flats in the town centre - with no car parking spaces for residents.

The 30 one-bedroomed flats in Vyne Road, to the rear of the railway station, will have just three car spaces for visitors.

Recommending approval to the committee, planning officers say: "Due to the site's accessibility to the town centre, the rail station and the bus station, it is considered that the principle of a car-free scheme in this location is acceptable.

"The accessibility of the site and the letting policy of the housing association allow a virtually car-free scheme.

"This reduces traffic from the site, allows a high density of development and ensures that useful amenity space can be provided.

"Such an attractive building would also set the standard for the future of South View regeneration."

Kingfisher Housing Association is behind the innovative four-storey block, which will be built on a quarter-acre warehouse site. The block will have a garden but no car park.

The three visitors' parking spaces will be underneath the block.

Basingstoke Heritage Society supports the scheme, saying: "This building appears really interesting and will enhance this rather faded part of town."

A council spokesman confirmed: "This is the first development of its kind - the first that is car-free."

However, while the development does not include any parking provision for residents, it is situated between two public pay and display car parks.