Maidstone could be in line for a 24-hour gym after plans were put forward to transform a former town centre bank.

The old Barclays banking hall has sat unused on the corner of High Street and Fairmeadow for two years, having relocated to Fremlin Walk in December 2014.

Since then the building has become an eyesore and it is hoped the addition of the fitness club, run by Snap Fitness, will breathe life back into the area.

The application by Enkay Investments Ltd, which operates gyms across the South East, has been lodged with Maidstone Borough Council and if successful will see the ground floor of the five-storey building, known as Riverside House, turned into an open-plan gym.

The remaining four floors will remain as offices.

It will feature cardio and weights machines and a free-weight area and will be Maidstone’s only open-all-hours fitness venue after TruGym recently cut its hours due to low interest.

According to information submitted to the council, the impact on residents of late-night fitness fanatics coming and going will be minimal as on average only five people will be working out at any one time from midnight until the early hours.

Music played inside the building will be at a low volume due to most members using personal devices and the doors will be closed at all times to control levels of noise.

A spokesman for agent Bidwells, which is overseeing the application, said plans were in the very early stages but the franchisee hoped the gym would revitalise the area.

Snap Fitness, which runs gyms in Ebbsfleet and Sittingbourne, is a US-based franchise that has set up more than 2,000 clubs in 15 countries since being launched in 2003, with members having access to every one of them.

A decision is due from mid September.