Mouldy offices on an industrial estate are to be converted into flats after only one business showed an interest in occupying the space.

Development giants Pentland Properties gained planning permission for Hawkinge Business Park in 2016, and finished it in late 2019.

But the company says it received hardly any inquiries about a two-storey office block at the rear of the site, which has stood empty for so long its outer walls are now turning green.

Pentland applied to Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) for permission to convert the block off Hurricane Way into eight flats, and its proposal was approved at a planning committee meeting last month.

The application – for four one-bed flats on the ground floor and the same number of two-bed units on the first floor – was voted through unanimously by the committee.

Twelve parking spaces will be offered next to the building and bosses say residents will be able to access a new shared garden.

The plans were first heard by FHDC in September 2023, but were deferred for more information on how the blocks were marketed to businesses.

A report for the developers by surveyors’ firm Sibley Pares says businesses “expressed concern about being able to attract and retain good quality staff to work in an isolated location”.

In November 2020, three of the other blocks on the site also got planning permission from FHDC to be converted into 23 apartments.

Cllr James Butcher (Green), who represents the area, told last week’s meeting: “I spoke against this at the planning committee last September, so I'm disappointed the decision went the way it did, but pleased we at least got agreement for more time to explore other options.

“Recently at the North Downs Forum we heard from local shopkeepers and small business owners about the challenges of running a business in the 21st century rural economy - I think we need to do more to understand what practical steps might make a positive difference.”

A spokesman for Pentland Properties, which is part of the Pentland Homes company, said it was originally believed “that the properties would receive a high level of interest”.

“In January 2019, we appointed a selling agent to commence marketing these units whilst the construction was underway,” they added.

“Only one offer was received between the marketing period of January 2019 and to date; and this offer was subject to a minor planning revision which was subsequently refused.”

In July 2019, FHDC refused a planning application for one of the offices to be used as a hair salon.

The developers’ marketing report details that the unit in question was meant to be sold for £220,000 if the use as a salon was approved.

The firm was seeking “offers in the region of £250,000” for long leaseholds on the units, the report details.

The Pentland spokesman continued: “By the end of 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak resulted in a significant drop off of interest in new commercial space requirements and coupled with the government’s first ‘stay at home’ order of March 2020, this has resulted in a very challenging economic and market environment that still persists today.

“Hawkinge Business Park is not situated in an established commercial trading location and demand is limited by its location outside of a business or town centre.

“For this reason, we made the decision to apply for a change of use to residential development with the intention of supporting the local community through converting these existing, vacant, commercial units into much needed new housing for the benefit of the local area and residents.”

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The office block is one of five buildings on the business park – three of which have already been converted into flats.

An accountancy firm occupies one of the other sites on the estate, which sits close to Hawkinge’s Lidl store.