The former Adult Education Centre in Green Street, Gillingham

Plans to convert a former adult education centre into student digs are one step closer.

An application has been submitted to redevelop the aging building in Green Street, Gillingham, into 97 flats.

Landlord Jon Gauld paid £220,000 for the site when it was controversially sold by Medway Council last year, due to high maintenance costs.

Mr Gauld owns dozens of properties in Gillingham and created student flats in the former Prince of Guinea pub in Medway Road, in 2011.

The 54-year-old hopes student nurses will move in to the building, which he admitted is unlike most student digs.

The Victorian school has high ceilings and several other buildings attached to it, including workshops and garages.

Speaking earlier this year Mr Gauld said: “I think it will be some of the nicest student accommodation there will be, given the building and the ceiling height.

“I think it’s a beautiful building and it’s begging to be sympathetically restored.”

Mr Gould has now lodged his plans with Medway Council which includes the conversion of the main building and the demolition of two buildings at the back of the site to make room for two new three-storey buildings.