A historic red phone box in Highgate Village could soon be a tiny office space, complete with printing, scanning, copying and wifi

People could then apply to use the “office pod” at the top of Waterlow Park.

Externally, the phone box will stay a royal red, and the shape will not be extended, under plans lodged with Camden Council.

The Highgate BT phone box was transferred to Thinking Outside the Box, which is putting in applications for tiny office phone boxes across the country. It launched its first office space in Russell Square, WC1.

Agent Miles Broe, an architect, said the scheme allowed for practical use at the time as “preserving heritage” - preventing the phone box from being sent to the scrap heap.

A group formed from the Highgate Society and the Highgate Neighbourhood Forum is looking after seven fully functioning red phone boxes in Highgate.

Lawyer Andrew Sulston said the group was disappointed that the phone box near Waterlow Park has stood empty and bolted up for over a year after being transferred to Thinking Outside the Box.

He said: “We welcome any good use of a phone box but will need to look at the plans carefully. Our strong view is that any alternative use for a phone box needs to be a good fit for the local area.

“So views of traders and shoppers on the High Street will be important.

“What will ‘office use’ really mean? Thinking Outside the Box is based in Brighton but we would like to discuss all of this with them.

“Meanwhile we continue to look after our much loved working phone boxes.”