A former Grade II-listed town centre bank stood empty for six years could be overhauled into flats.

The former NatWest building in Sandwich, which was shut in a bid to save money, is being eyed by a developer hoping to revamp the building into three homes and office space.

If plans are successful, the building's grey-walled, languishing vault, will form part of the transformation.

Fresh photos in planning documents give the public a glimpse of the bank's former safe, which housed significant amounts of money and valuables in its heyday.

The building in Market Street was first built around 1830, with flats at the top and commercial area at ground level.

Agents CAD Solutions revealed its client hopes to turn the premises, which shut in 2017, into a couple of two-bed apartments alongside a single one-bed, with the remaining floor space kept for office purposes.

In official papers lodged with Dover District Council, CAD says part of the building affected “includes the former banking hall to the front, an office and a large safe within the centre of the floor plan, together with the area formerly used for ‘back of house’ functions”.

“This space has remained vacant since 2017, despite a marketing exercise to find a new tenant occupier,” it adds.

According to the plans, the existing communal entrance to the building will be retained to serve the flats on the upper floors, and also a proposed flat on the ground floor.

If plans progress, a second flat will also be on the ground floor and accessed by the rear of the property, while the third will be formed within the existing single storey flat roof extension to the rear of the former bank.

Other alterations include several new windows, rendering of existing walls and replacing of the existing flat roof to the rear of the building.

Documents say associated parking will predominantly rely on on-street parking and town centre car parks.

“The town is served by Sandwich train station, which is situated approximately 0.35km south-east of the town centre boundary,” it adds.

“There are a number of car parks within the centre, the majority of which are operated by Dover District Council.

“The Quay car park has capacity for 146 cars, the Guildhall car park has capacity for 188 cars, and the Gazen Salts car park holds 101 cars.

“There is also on-street parking available within Sandwich on both Market Street and New Street.”