A former school which has fallen into disrepair could be converted into a home in a bid to save the historic Grade II-listed building.

Planning permission is being sought to change the use of the former St Peter’s School of English in Canterbury, which closed in 2022 after becoming a victim of the Covid pandemic.

The building in St Alphege Lane – near the famous Cathedral – has been vacant ever since and has deteriorated to the extent it is no longer watertight.

Parts of two ceilings have fallen down, with pictures showing debris on the floor.

Efforts have been made to market the property since its closure, with dozens of potential buyers expressing interest.

But very little interest has been from commercial parties, and those who did look around immediately dismissed it due to its condition, listed status and size.

“Such defects as were noted mainly result from the failure of routine upkeep and decoration over a fairly extensive period of time both prior to and in the period following the closure of the school,” the application states, submitted to Canterbury City Council by the site’s owners.

“The building is now deteriorating at a rapid rate with two ceilings having collapsed due to water penetration and with the damp having penetrated through to the ground floor causing the collapse of a further ceiling very recently.

“Of particular concern is the structural condition of the oak-framed roof in the older rear range of the building, where water penetration through failed valley gutters over a period of time has led to extensive decay in one of the primary roof truss members.”

The building lies within one of the oldest parts of Canterbury’s conservation area – contributing to its Unesco World Heritage Site status – and has been Grade II-listed since 1967.

Its size suggests it was once owned by an important citizen but there is little historical information on the property.

Records suggest a possible connection with historian and solicitor Alderman Cyprian Rondeau Bunce – a significant figure in the city who became mayor in 1789.

The report adds: “The applicants have been able to demonstrate an extensive and robust marketing exercise revealed the only potential interest was from those wishing to use the property as a residence.”

A date on the application is expected by Friday, October 11.

So far, no comments in favour or against have been submitted to the council over the plans.