New flats and a café have been proposed as part of the redevelopment and extension of a prominent former hotel.

A scheme has been lodged to transform the Royal Court Hotel in Lowestoft, which has stood empty for more than a decade.

Having been closed since 2009, The Royal Court Hotel on London Road South, Lowestoft was purchased last year and has been undergoing refurbishment since.

Lowestoft Court Apartments Ltd has now submitted a planning application to East Suffolk Council for the redevelopment and extension of the former hotel.

Should the plans be given the green light, it would see a café/co-working space provided at ground floor level with 29 fully-furnished, fully-serviced one-bedroom flats created across four floors for employees of the offshore wind industry, according to the applicants.

A spokesman for the applicants said: “The intention is that the residential accommodation will be leased in blocks to companies operating within the wind energy industry in Lowestoft to allow them to provide accommodation for their staff who are working away from home for short periods of time.”

The Royal Court Hotel was originally opened in 1988 and ran as a 22-bedroom hotel until July 2009.

Since then, the building has been used as temporary accommodation for homeless people as well as an industrial space. It was empty for more than 10 years until Lowestoft Court Apartments Ltd bought it in October 2019.

Safdar Khan, managing director of Lowestoft Court Apartments Ltd and Corporate Lets UK Ltd, said: “The energy sector is crucial for East Suffolk and the next few years should see significant opportunities.

“We are delighted to be submitting a planning application for the redevelopment of the former Royal Court Hotel and hope that our plans will contribute positively to the renewable energy industry which is so vital for the local economy of Lowestoft.”

The property management company has held successful community engagement events to discuss the plans, while the building has been stripped and cleared out.

Mr Khan said: “As well as providing accommodation for staff working within the wind energy industry, our vision is that the development will help residents and building users live affordable, healthy, sustainable lifestyles.

“I am committed to the One Planet Living framework created by sustainability consultancy Bioregional who are pioneers in the field of sustainable, environmentally and socially friendly building design.”