Town centre offices look set to be converted into homes after struggling to find occupants.

Priory Gate in Union Street, Maidstone, was purpose-built as a suite of eight offices in 1991, with each unit spread over three floors.

But the gated property, which runs alongside the Maidstone Methodist Church and extends well back from the road, has struggled to find occupants in recent years.

Of the eight units, three are occupied and five have been empty and on the market for two years.

The owners, KA Investments and Developments, intend to redevelop the five vacant units into 15 apartments.

They would comprise 10 one-bed flats, three two-bed and two three-bed.

The other three commercial units would remain occupied as offices.

Each flat would have one allocated parking space in a basement car park.

Access to one of the apartments would be via Starnes Court.

The site is described as sustainable, being only 350m from Maidstone East Station and with the Duke of Marlborough pub next door.

The last government implemented legislation that allows most offices to be converted into accommodation without requiring a formal planning application, under “permitted development rights.”

The applicants believe they have permitted development rights for their propsal, but have submitted an application to the borough council to determine if that is the case.

The application can be seen on the council’s website under reference number 24/502631.

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

Meanwhile, just under a mile away, there is another application to convert two offices into flats.

This proposal does need a formal planning application because the building - Nos 6 & 8 Knightrder Street - is a Grade II listed property dating from the mid-1800s.

Originally a terrace of three homes, one has since been converted to an international food store, Maidstone Express.

The remaining two three-storey properties already have flats on the second and third floors. The owner now wants to convert the two ground-floor offices, currently used by a solicitor’s business, into two one-bedroom flats.

There is no parking available.

The relevant planning application is 24/502632, with a corresponding listed building application, 24/502632LBC.

The building also lies within the Maidstone Conservation Area.