A VACANT office block in the centre of Chelmsford could be turned into 55 retirement flats.

Plans have been submitted to Chelmsford Council by Churchill Retirement Living to transform London House, in New London Road.

The block has been vacant since the summer and subject to vandalism.

If permission is granted by the council, the development, which would comprise of a mix of one and two-bed homes, could open in May 2016.

Andrew Burgess, Churchill Retirement Living’s planning director, said there was a need for private sheltered housing in the city, with the group’s figures suggesting 25 per cent of the city’s population being at retirement age by 2037.

He said: “There is a massive need for private sheltered housing in Chelmsford. The proposed development will increase access to private sheltered housing for local residents. There is a significant forecast growth in the number of older people here whose housing requirements will not be met within the existing stock.”

City councillor Dick Madden welcomed said: “This supports independent living, and that’s really important.

“This kind of development means that if an older person moves out of their home into somewhere like this, it frees up a house for a young family.

“If we can develop more of these independent facilities, it will unlock more houses for younger buyers.”