PLANS have been unveiled to convert a former Clevedon convent site into apartments and family homes.

The building in Marine Hill, which dates back to the 1800s, could be transformed into nine flats with proposals also being put forward to build five family homes nearby.

The plans have been put together by ATA Estates, which bought the site in 2001, and will see newer buildings on the site demolished.

ATA Estates spokesman Jenny Gee said: “As it has grown over the years, there have been bits and pieces added to the site.

“The plan is to take the building back to its core.

“The apartments will be a reasonable size and of good quality, which work within the interior of the building.

“We will retain all of its features and historic aspects.”

As well as owning the convent building, ATA estates owns land running from the Marine Hill building to Leagrove Road, where it plans to create five, contemporary family homes. Two will be detached and three will be built in a terrace.

Each will have its own garden, which will back on to the communal gardens for the apartment owners. Some of the apartments will also feature a private terrace.

The apartments will be made up of one three-bed flat, four two-bed flats, three one-bed flats and one three-bed flat with a feature turret creating extra levels.

Yesterday (Tues), residents had the chance to take a look at the proposals during a drop-in session at the site.

Any comments made will be considered against the proposals before a planning application is submitted.

Jenny said: “We hope to submit plans this side of Christmas, maybe around October time.

“An application won’t go in until we have got something that we feel will be acceptable locally.”

The historic building, which dates back to the 1800s, was used as a convent from 1903 before it became the Royal York Hotel in the 1930s. By 1966 it returned to use as a convent, called the Convent of Our Lady Mary, until it was closed in 2006.