The BT phoneboxes will become a mobile phone repair shop and offer office space for modern workers

Ham & High: Design plans for the new office spaces and mobile phone repair shops. Image: M B DESIGN AND BUILD LTD planning applicationDesign plans for the new office spaces and mobile phone repair shops. Image: M B DESIGN AND BUILD LTD planning application (Image: Archant)

Hampstead’s remaining red telephone boxes are to be transformed into a mobile phone repair shop and two miniature office spaces.

The traditional BT phone box outside Gap Kids, on Hampstead High Street, will be run by Lovefone for phone repairs, as well as providing free Wi-Fi and phone charging.

The planning application, from Brighton-based Red Kiosk Company has been given the green light by Camden Council.

The application argues: “The concept of a public telephone box is now outdated as the majority of people own a mobile phone.

Ham & High: The Hampstead coffee kiosk Kape Barako is thriving, but still in a licensing dispute with Camden Council.The Hampstead coffee kiosk Kape Barako is thriving, but still in a licensing dispute with Camden Council. (Image: Archant)

“The new use maintains their iconic appearance but re-invents their use to suit the 21st century.

“The concept of adapting phone boxes to different uses has been adopted throughout the country with over 2000 to date adapted to varied uses.”

Permission has also been granted for the phone boxes outside Lloyds TSB bank, on Rossyln Hill, and outside the former Hampstead police station, to become office spaces.

All waste will be collected by a miniature electric scooter and all office equipment and supplies will be carried out daily, and opening hours will be 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday for all three phone boxes.

The same company has already won planning permission for an office space within the phone box in Highgate, near Waterlow Park, as well as Pond Street, in Hampstead.

The Ham&High has previously reported on the popular coffee kiosk Kape Barako, on Hampstead High Street, which rents its red phone box space from the Red Kiosk Company.

Owner Umar Khalid and his wife Alona Guerra were voted one of TimeOut Love London’s best coffee cafes in November last year, despite facing an initial fight for survival.

More than 550 customers signed a petition in support of the coffee shop, which faced closure when it was embroiled in a licensing row with Camden Council.

Mr Khalid says it is still not resolved, but business is going strong.

“I don’t know how they will deal with licences for these new kiosks.”