A listed building that has been vacant for four years is being offered a new lease of life.

The former Save The Children charity shop in Union Street, Maidstone is being proposed for conversion into a home.

The Grade II-listed property is part of a terrace of buildings understood to have been constructed in the late 18th century.

The new owner wants to build a modest extension to the rear in order to increase the size of the building’s kitchen. There would be three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Under the plans the main commercial space, fronting Union Street, would become the lounge, but the shop-style windows would be retained, although double-glazed on the inside.

The applicant, Kent Development Projects, says there will be no discernible change to the front aspect of the building and only modest changes to the rear.

Two sheds behind the property would be demolished and a courtyard garden re-established.

The building does lie within the Maidstone Holy Trinity Church Conservation Area.

It comes after former volunteers and customers hit out at Save the Children in September over concerns valuable donations had been left inside to gather dust since it closed during the pandemic.

Charity bosses said “all sellable donations” had already been transferred to other stores to help generate vital funds, but pictures showed the store still packed with items.

It was then put up for auction shortly after the initial story and sold for £170,000.

Details of the planning application can be found on the Maidstone council website under reference number 24/504997.

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

A short distance away in Union Street, there is another application for a change of use to convert a commercial property into a mixed commercial and residential use.

The application from Rzgar Property Ltd would see the commercial use continue on the ground floor, while the rear of the ground floor and two upper floors would form a two-bedroom flat.

The building is currently occupied by the tanning company, Tantastic.

Details of this application can be found under reference number 24/504947.