PLANS to build office space at Longhedge Village have been scrapped to make way for more houses and smaller industrial units.

Developers Catesby Estates have redesigned plans for land originally earmarked for offices to build 90 homes on the estate near Salisbury.

The decision comes after the company marketed the development for almost two years without any uptake.

Associate planning director Grant Stevenson said: “Despite significant investment in the marketing of the employment land site over the last two years, there has been no demand for office space. This is perhaps driven by the fact that there is currently 172,000 square feet of vacant office space within a 10 mile radius.

“In order to help support the new neighbourhood centre and provide more affordable housing for residents in Longhedge, we are proposing to bring forward this site for housing, whilst also still providing some alternative employment space.”

The proposals, that are currently at consultation stage, include 40 per cent affordable housing, which the company says will “enable more young families and first-time buyers struggling to get onto the housing ladder find a home within their financial means”.

The application will also include smaller industrial units on 1.5 acres of land after Laverstock and Ford Parish Council raised concerns that the developer wanted to build homes across the entire site.

Chairman David Burton said: “The parish council met with Catesby and we have put our views down. Originally they weren’t going to put any office space in but we said there has to be some employment space and they have altered the plans.”

Along with the new homes, plans have been developed to create a food store, a day nursery for 81 children and a 66-bed care home, along with additional retail and cafe units which were given planning permission in 2014.

It is expected that, once planning permission is granted, work on the shops and care home could be completed within 12 months.

To take part in the consultation go to catesbyestates.co.uk