A HUGE new development could change the face of a Marlow town centre street after plans were revealed for 14 new homes along with shops and restaurants.

Shanly Homes has submitted an application to Wycombe District Council to demolish office building Windsor House on the corner of Spittal Street and Dean Street, which it labelled as "dated".

The development firm hopes to replace it with a more traditional Georgian-style three-storey building comprising 10 flats and ground floor space for retail and cafes/restaurants.

Nine of the flats would be two-bedroom properties along with one 3-bedroom apartment.

It would also include four three-bed homes to the rear, 22 parking spaces as well as room to store 21 bicycles.

If approved, the new building would completely reshape the appearance of the town centre when approached from the A5155 to the east.

Nathan Craker, development manager at the Shanly Group, said: “It is an important site and the eastern gateway to the town.

"The building that is there currently is not that attractive and it’s our aim to replace it with a much better looking one.

“Architecturally, it follows the strong theme of the Georgian buildings that surround it in the conservation area.

“It is very important to us to continue the retail activity on that end of Spittal Street, and adding residential units while making it more attractive at the same time.”

The Windsor House office building was home to the offices of HMV until the company vacated last year. It has remained empty ever since.

The council has already warned developers that the plans would only be approved if it could be proved that the space was "no longer practicable for employment generating purposes".

But the Shanly Group’s application claims there has been very little interest from tenants in taking up the office space due its dated appearance and poor floor space layout.

WDC is expected to rule on the application by June.