Plans to transform an empty town centre tower block into 86 homes have been given the green light, for the second time.

Travel firm Saga’s housing plans for its seven-storey building in Middelburg Square, Folkestone were originally granted permission in September 2021.

But work never started and the application expired.

In August, an identical application was submitted to Folkestone and Hythe District Council, for 53 two-bed flats and 33 one-bed flats at the site, known as Bouverie House.

The project is to also include a lobby, storage space on each floor, and 36 parking spaces.

The application has now been given the go-ahead for the second time, although it is understood work is not expected to start immediately.

Bouverie House has sat empty since Saga staff moved to a working-from-home set-up in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

Saga, led by philanthropist Sir Roger De Haan, offers a range of products and services exclusively for the over 50s, including insurance and holidays.

In 2021 Saga also secured 'prior approval' to convert its now-former headquarters, Enbrook Park in Sandgate, into 62 flats with an equal split between one- and two-beds, plus space for a concierge, a communal lounge and 62 car parking spaces.

Staff were still based at the Enbrook Park site at the time, although it was closed as an office space last year.

However the permission for this has also expired, and no new plans have been submitted.

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When Enbrook closed in March 2023, the company revealed that the hillside location - designed and built to accommodate around 1,000 employees - only saw approximately 120 people use the office more than twice a week.

Staff were then moved to a number of smaller office hubs around Kent with colleagues also able to work from home.