Dover’s Triffids in a town centre shop could soon be cleaned up.

A planning application has been submitted to turn the upper floors, with weeds crawling inside them, into flats.

The double property, 50/51 Biggin Street, was highlighted by the Dover Mercury last week as a symbol of the rot of the town centre precinct.

At the last count 12 shop units were disused and McDonald’s will become the 13th when it closes this Saturday .

A district council meeting heard that some properties have been left disused for 15 to 20 years.

This building looked like a scene from the science fiction film about multiplying terror plants, The Day of the Triffids.

The Mercury has now learned that there is an application to Dover District Council to turn the first, second and third floors into nine self-contained flats.

It is also to install two replacement shop frontages.

The application was submitted on September 4 and the council’s decision is awaited.

The application is by a Mr S. Lakhani, according to planning department records, and the scheme is being dealt with through agents in Ealing, London.

The Mercury photographed the building the day after the full council passed a motion calling on investment in the declining precinct .

This is amid massive competition from the new St James’ retail and leisure development, which opens in the first quarter of next year.

The regeneration group Dover Big Local said it was hopeful the property could now be promptly redeveloped.

Chairman Ross Miller said; “The property changed hands at auction and the new owner is seeking to redevelop the site. This should be applauded.

“None of us like to see property in the town in a state of disrepair, however the particular property, along with the majority in the town centre, are privately owned and as such the extent to which the local authority is able to intervene is limited.”

Mr Miller said a multi-group approach could help the town such as the district council by planning plus seeking inward investment and the tourism group Destination Dover through its promotion of the town.

Dover Town Team chairman John Angell said: “Dover District Council needs to take the lead to help redevelop the Cannon/Biggin Street area as they have with the St James’ development by purchasing and redeveloping properties in this area.

“Development by market means will be lengthy as developers while not move until property prices have hit rock bottom.

“Dover Town Team has been highlighting this problem for the last six years.”

Dover Town Team is pressing on with its bid for a Coastal Community Fund grant to refurbish Market Square despite having lost in the last round of bids.

Mr Angell said: “It is even more important to link the St James’ development with the traditional main shopping area.”