A HISTORIC building close to Malvern town centre which has fallen into dereliction could be restored.

Developer MDC Projects Ltd of Birmingham has applied to convert 2 Holyrood House, Wells Road, into three apartments.

The application has been welcomed by Malvern Civic Society chairman Clive Hooper. He said: “The society has been concerned over a number of years about the state of this property. We’re very pleased that a developer has come along with what looks like a viable plan to bring it back into use. We would hope that the plan would seen to preserve as many of the building’s historic features as possible, but we recognise that, since the roof has been letting in considerable amounts of water for some years, a lot of the feature may have suffered irreparable damage.”

In the application, the house is described as “literally falling apart”.

A report with the application says: “Loss of historic fabric has occurred with the removal of architectural features such as fireplaces, and water damage has caused serious deterioration and failure of timbers.”

“In addition, much of the original lath and plaster ceilings, lime hair plaster walls and some cornices have been either fully or partially lost.”

“The intervention of a potential new owner will significantly improve this nationally important designated heritage asset and contribute to conservation gain within the Great Malvern Conservation Area.”

“MDC Projects Ltd has exchanged on the property but it not legally obliged to complete unless a satisfactory planning consent has been granted which is also viable.”

A plan to convert the building into one four-bedroom home and four one-bedroom apartments was granted in January 2011, but was never implemented, and subsequently lapsed.