BUSINESS leaders have welcomed greater protection for Winchester office space.

The city council wants to do more to safeguard much-needed offices from being converted into flats, as reported in the Chronicle last wek.

Cabinet members at Winchester City Council are recommending the introduction of restricted development rights in the central business improvement district (BID) in relation to converting offices into flats.

The ‘standard Article 4 direction’ is welcome news for local businesses and others concerned about a lack of available commercial space.

Among those campaigning for the move were Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the occupants of Capitol House in Bridge Street, where a planning application to convert two upstairs floors into 12 flats has recently been granted.

Hampshire Chamber Chief Executive, Stewart Dunn, who is also a Winchester BID Director, said: “We are seriously concerned about the lack of commercial space in the Winchester area so an Article 4 direction is very welcome indeed. It sends out a powerful message that Winchester is indeed somewhere that is open for business. We hope this will help to maintain and grow business confidence.”

Catherine Turness, BID Executive Director, pointed to a recent survey of BID members which found that many in professional industries were keen to expand while remaining in central Winchester.

She said: “The demand for professional office space remains high and so we are delighted the city council is looking at using its powers as a planning authority to do what it can protect the space available.”

The Capitol House occupants who made representations to the council are Nick Joynes of the Natural Travel Collection and Alistair Peebles of Talk Design and Print.

Mr Joynes said: “Although it is too late for Capitol House, the Article 4 direction is a great outcome for the Winchester area.”

In a recent survey of Winchester businesses by the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, more than 70 per cent of respondents said they had concerns about the availability of office space in the city.

Winchester City Council have said they recognise the demand for office space is an issue that needs to be tackled and they are keen to find solutions that meet the needs of the business community.

Planning officers and Cabinet members are recommending the council invokes the Article 4 direction after a 12-month notification period.

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice of local business across the county and one of the largest regional business networks in the UK. It brings together the combined influence, strength and expertise of Hampshire’s three former major chambers of commerce. It works with over 2,000 individual firms spanning all sectors and sizes of business.