AN ICONIC Poole building could be converted into flats as part of major new proposals. 

Barclays House, in Wimborne Road, looks set to be turned into 362 flats in a stark change from its original use as an office block. 

Opened as an office block with a 1,100-space car park in 1976, Barclays used the site for around 2,500 employees at one time. 

However, the bank moved its 700 remaining staff out of the block and into new offices in Bournemouth in December last year. 

Cllr Mark Howell, ward councillor for Poole Town, said the plans for flats sound “very positive”. 

Bournemouth Echo:

He added: “If the building can be rescued then that is a good thing from a climate change perspective. 

“The only question would be is, what the mix of flats would look like, whether it would be one-bedrooms or two-bedrooms etc. 

Read more: How much BCP Council spent on due diligence for Barclays House

“But that would be down to the developers. Smaller units would be better for the town centre.” 

It was thought the building could have been flattened and redeveloped by Richard Carr, after his company, Fortitudo, made a £6.5m bid for it. 

He had said he wanted to replace it with something “very, very iconic” but it later emerged that BCP Council made an even higher offer. 

Read more: BCP Council will NOT continue to buy Barclays House

The authority placed a controversial and unconfirmed £17m offer, causing outrage among residents and councillors after learning of the bid through an Echo freedom of information request. 

After a period of due diligence costing the council £115,656.09, former council leader Drew Mellor said the proposal would “not fit in with intended plans”. 

Current council leader Vikki Slade said it had been a “complete waste of money” while Cllr Stephen Bartlett added it was “disappointing” that leadership “wasted” taxpayers’ money.  

A planning application for the site was lodged with BCP Council earlier this month, however, full details for the scheme are yet to be uploaded.