PLANS to transform a former cottage hospital into flats have been revised and resubmitted after they were turned down late last year.

PLANS to transform a former cottage hospital into flats have been revised and resubmitted after they were turned down late last year.

The Thetford Cottage Hospital was made redundant almost three years ago when health workers and patients moved to a new �4.5m healthy living centre on the edge of town.

NHS Norfolk, which owns the Earls Street site, wanted to demolish the Victorian building and redevelop the site into 14 two and three bedroom terraced homes.

These were refused but now have been revised to retain the hospital and transform it into four, two bedroom flats, plus an additional three, three bedroom houses and six, two bedroom houses on the remainder of the site.

Keith Jarvis, head of estates, for NHS Norfolk, said: “On behalf of NHS Norfolk, Chaplin Farrant (a Norwich-based architectural and interior design practice) has this week submitted the revised planning application for the site.

“Following the previous application the planning committee indicated that it would like to see the hospital building retained.”

The site was put on the open market by NHS Norfolk in 2007 with a price tag of �350,000 but it failed to sell.

But the proposal to demolish the building and redevelop the site was also stopped in its tracks after Breckland councillors refused to grant permission saying the former hospital was seen as part of the town's heritage.

The original bid to redevelop the site was fought by Thetford Town Council and the Thetford Society and a petition of more than 250 signatures was collected.

NHS Norfolk said it would be a minimum of eight weeks before a decision was received.