A long-neglected care home left in a state of disrepair could be set for a new lease of life.

Plans have been submitted to transform the abandoned property, described as being in a “poor aesthetic condition” into nine residential flats in Lower Road, River, near Dover.

Developers at Arcvelop Architects have put forward the proposals to Dover District Council (DDC) for the former Meadow Dean site, which spans 833sq m.

It was previously a care home for the elderly but has remained vacant for several years, falling into a state of disrepair.

According to the application, the existing structure will be retained and restored rather than demolished to preserve its prominent street presence.

Plans include repairs to the building’s features and improvements to the surrounding landscape to reinvigorate the site and make it a more attractive building in the neighbourhood.

In documents submitted to DDC, the applicant states: “The current site is poorly maintained and is not a useful amenity to local residents or any pedestrians.

“The proposed scheme seeks to revitalise the existing structure and surrounding site by repairing the existing features of the care home and implementing quality landscaping surrounding the site.

“The site is in a prominent position on the street scheme and has been falling into disrepair for a number of years.

“If approved, the project could breathe new life into the site, which has long been considered an eyesore.”

One comment in support has been lodged on DDC’s planning portal so far.

Alan Jacobs said: “I have no objection to the flats, I support them but the parking concerns me.

“There is a lack of safe parking already in Lower Road, which spills over to the adjoining areas at busy times.

“The nine flats could easily generate 18 plus cars, not including visitors.”

Developers explain that although parking in the vicinity is currently limited to on-street spaces, the care home’s previous use would have generated a greater parking demand on-site.

The area is largely residential, with a mix of two and three-storey homes, many of which are set back from the pavement with small front gardens.

One key aspect of the proposal is its minimal impact on the local environment, say developers.

The plans indicate no external extensions or significant construction work will take place, ensuring that the neighbouring river and trees remain undisturbed.

The focus will instead be on internal renovations and structural maintenance to convert the building into a residential scheme.

A new bin storage is proposed that will keep bins and bikes from being exposed to the front view of the site.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The care home, previously run by Apollo Homes, specialised in dementia care and was last reviewed in 2018 by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when the facility was ruled as inadequate and kept in special measures following an inspection the year before.

The inspection stated that an action plan devised to address issues from the previous inspection had not been implemented.

The home closed later that year.

A decision on the planning application is expected by DDC later this year.