A bid to demolish and transform a derelict seafront café complete with housing has been unveiled - little more than two years after previous plans were shelved.

The former Western Undercliff Cafe in Ramsgate could be transformed into a huge six-storey building, with 13 flats, public toilets and a ground floor eatery as well as an electricial sub-station.

In papers submitted to Thanet District Council, developer Custom Build Developments has branded the current site as “a potential danger” and stated its belief its vision for the area is “much-needed”.

“The current building and site are unoccupiable and boarded up representing a potential danger to the general public,” bosses behind the project write.

“The scheme aims to make the ground floor public spaces and all of the apartments as accessible to as many people as possible without compromising the economic viability of the development.

“This application provides an identifiable development opportunity for high quality residential apartments above a much-needed ground floor café and public toilet.”

The Western Undercliff Cafe is a single-storey building with a roof terrace, which sits at the foot of a cliff and in a conservation area.

The building has remained empty since 2014 after a burst water pipe put the beach café business out of action - leaving the stretch of seafront without any amenities.

Previously, up until the 1980s, the beach front had huts, chalets and other facilities, but these were demolished in 1995 to make way for an access road to the port.

If approved, the plans would see 11 two-bed flats and two one-bed flats built - a slight alteration to previous proposals put forward.

Plans were submitted in September 2020 by the previous owners of the building, Western Undercliff Ltd, to rebuild the cafe and add eight flats as well as a roof-top restaurant.

The development was given the green light later that year but disputes between the proposed developer and the council saw the scheme fall apart within two months of it being approved.

Tim Burt, a partner of Western Undercliff Ltd, claimed Thanet District Council refused permission for an over-sail on the building - which would have hung over an authority-owned pavement - on financial grounds.

In a petition document set up by Mr Burt, he said the council insisted on further contributions, but turned down an offer from the developer totalling more than £70,000.

He claimed Western Undercliff Ltd had "no choice" but to abandon plans due to the authority "blocking" the scheme.

However, Thanet District Council denied this, stating it want it to proceed and that they were trying to resolve a "complex set of issues".

In December 2021, the plot of land - complete with planning permission - was sold again for £600,000, this time being snapped up by current developers Custom Build Developments.

Having bought the property from the council at auction in 2018 for £100,000, the sale of the site netted Western Undercliff Ltd half a million in profit.

It is hoped a decision could be made on the new plans by late July this year.