Plans to potentially transform two Saga office buildings into apartment blocks have emerged.

The travel and insurance firm has submitted applications for 'prior approval' for proposed changes of use from office to residential for their offices in Middelburg Square, Folkestone, and at Enbrook Park, in Sandgate.

The Enbrook office is currently used as the company's head office.

The seven-storey building in Middelburg Square, called Bouverie House, is now empty after more staff moved to a working from home set up in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The building was put on the market earlier this year with commercial agents Sibley Pares, and a sale was agreed in March, for an undisclosed amount and to an unknown buyer.

That sale is now expected to take place in 2023, and Saga has no plans to re-occupy Middleburg in the intervening period.

Now Saga has submitted the planning applications to Folkestone and Hythe District Council in order to keep their options open about the future uses of both the sites.

At Bouverie House, the proposal outlines plans for 53 two-bed flats, and 33 one-bed flats, as well as residential space in the form of a lobby and storage space on each floor.

Thirty six parking spaces are proposed around the building, including two disabled bays. Cycle and refuse storage will be located at ground floor level.

For the Sandgate building, 62 flats are proposed, 31 two-bed and 31 one-bed, plus space for concierge, residents store and communal lounge, and 62 car parking spaces.

A spokesperson for Saga said: “We have submitted a Permitted Development Application for our Folkestone offices.

"There is currently a time-limited opportunity to apply for these rights to convert office space into residential homes and we have applied to maintain optionality in a fast-changing world.

"Enbrook remains Saga’s head office and we are currently making a significant investment into renovating the office building for our colleagues."

Saga specialises in holidays and insurance to the over-50s.

The Kent firm, which also has a call centre in Thanet currently being used as a vaccine centre, is one of the county's biggest employers.

But it has been hit hard by the pandemic which saw its cruise ship operations suspended in March last year.

Since then, staff have been working remotely, which prompted the sale of the Folkestone office.

In June 2020, it was announced that around 300 jobs had been slashed as a result of the impact Covid-19 has had on the business.

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