A BASINGSTOKE eyesore could soon be transformed into trade units and a drive-thru restaurant.

The Strathclyde Pension Fund, administered by Glasgow City Council, has applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to demolish Telford House, in Hamilton Close, Houndmills.

The fund originally applied to the borough council in July 2013 for planning permission to demolish the building and replace it with five trade units and a drive-thru restaurant.

But the plans were withdrawn in November 2013 because “a number of highway issues remained unresolved”.

Strathclyde have now re-submitted their planning application for the site, and, if approved, it will see five new trade units and a two-storey drive-thru restaurant built, creating 51 full-time jobs.

The new application says: “The majority of Telford House has remained vacant for quite some time, and has been marketed extensively to prospective tenants, with very little interest shown to occupy space within the building.

“The current accommodation is not fit-for-purpose for modern office use and the dated design of the building has not made Telford House attractive for potential occupiers.”

As part of the development, 30 car spaces will be provided for the five trade units, 19 spaces for the proposed two-storey drive-thru restaurant and 11 shared spaces for the site.

The application says 51 full-time jobs would be created by the new units, excluding the jobs created by the demolition of the old building and construction of the new buildings.

Among the current occupiers of the building is Basingstoke ITEC, the Government-funded training firm that aims to help young people find work.