DEVELOPERS want to turn a large building next to Colchester’s north station into flats.

London-based Monopro Ltd wants to create 63 one and two-bed apartments in Equity House in Bergholt Road.

It has submitted an application to Colchester Council to change the use from office space to residential.

The three-storey building already has an 89-space car park.

It is currently occupied by the Equity Insurance Group, which is run in partnership with iGO4.

Martin Goss, chair of Colchester Council’s local plan committee, used to work in the building.

He said the company’s lease ends in September next year, and it plans to move its staff to a new office elsewhere in Colchester.

He supports the planning application and does not believe it will be controversial.

He said: “It’s personally for me very sad because I absolutely loved working there. I had a great part of my career in that building.

“But the company has gone through drastic changes and losses.

Gazette:

“The building itself looks tired and dated. It would be aesthetically pleasing if the developers did something with it.

“The flats will be good for young professionals – I suspect they will be extremely popular.”

The applicant believes the change of use would actually create less traffic in the already congested area.

The reports highlights that as flats it will probably have no more than 150 people living there.

But in its current layout it could have 491 staff - 115 on the ground floor, 212 on the first and 164 on the second floor.

It states: “The residential use is likely to result in a reduced travel demand than the existing use, and no increase in traffic as a result of the change of use is envisaged.”

Mr Goss said: “There is already a flow of traffic as employees are coming and leaving work.

“If people are living there it means the coming and going will probably be throughout the day and night.

“The traffic flow might actually be slightly better.”

A spokesman for the developers said it was unable to comment on the application at this time.

The Gazette contacted the insurance company, but did not receive a response before our deadline.