THE derelict Royal Sea Bathing Hospital at Margate may be converted into luxury flats.

A planning application has been submitted to Thanet council to convert the part listed building which was sold earlier this year in excess of the £600,000 asking price.

The proposal is to build two two, three and four storey wings, convert the chapel to two residential apartments, and erect a three-storey building onto the main road frontage for three shop units and residential accommodation above.

The total number of apartments in the complex would be 152, with ancillary parking space.

If permission is granted by the planning committee when it considers the application this autumn, it will be a new beginning for the 200 year old building and site that has slowly deteriorated in the last decade.

The Royal Sea Bathing Hospital was founded in 1791 under the patronage of George III.