ONE of Great Malvern's landmark buildings could be converted into five flats.

Aldwyn Tower, on St Ann's Road, is one of the most distinctive buildings on the hillside above the town centre.

The imposing Grade II listed building, with its eye-catching Italianate design, has been a private house, a hotel and, most recently, a nursing home. However, it has now been empty for some years.

In 1899, future US president Franklin D Roosevelt was a hotel guest as a child.

Now property developer Danriss Property Corporation plc has sent in a planning application to Malvern Hills District Council.

The applicant's agent is Hekmat Kaveh, of Priory Road, the owner on the Abbey College at 253 Wells Road.

The current owner of Aldwyn Tower is Crystalight Ltd of 251/3 Wells Road.

The principle for converting Aldwyn Tower into housing was established in April last year, when Danriss was granted permission to convert the building into six flats.

The new proposal shows a one-bedroom garden flat on the building's lowest level and two flats on the lower ground floor.

A larger flat occupies most of the ground floor and the first floor. It is planned with a conservatory and terrace. The fifth flat is mainly on the second floor, with rooms in the distinctive tower that gives the building its name, plus a roof balcony.

Mr Kaveh said: "We've had a structural survey done and it came out being very good, but there has been a lot of vandalism."

He said it would probably cost around £300,000 to convert the building and he hoped work would start within about six weeks of permission being granted.