New plans have gone in to convert the former British Telecom building in Lancaster into 28 apartments.
The new planning permission request to Lancaster City Council asks for prior approval for a change of use on Telephone House on Fenton Street.
Some of the apartments could be used for NHS staff working at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Most recently, part of the lower ground floor of Telephone House was used as a mosque but this has now relocated to Dallas Road.
Until the mid-1990s, the five-storey building was used as BT's customer service centre in Lancaster, until it moved to the nearby telephone exchange on Cawthorne Street.
In more recent years it was occupied by a dentist, a security firm and a mix of other businesses.
A previous planning permission to convert the rear upper ground floor, first, second, third and fourth floors to 20 flats has now lapsed.
A statement provided with the planning application by HPA Architects on behalf of Inayat Munshi of Fenton Suites Ltd, said: "The building owner has already secured planning permission to convert the former mosque space and the upper ground floor (former dentist which is now vacant) into residential use.
"The first, second and third floor previously benefitted from Prior Approval Consent to convert offices into residential use. These floors are currently vacant.
"The applicant would like to gain Prior Approval Permission for the entire building to be C3 (dwelling) use on one permission. This has only recently become possible since the mosque has relocated.
"This application includes studio accommodation, and this is partly in response to an enquiry for some of the building to be used for key worker accommodation for NHS staff working at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary Hospital (RLI)
"Whilst there is no contract in place with the NHS for this accomodation at the time of writing, the NHS have asked for a mix of units in the city centre, ranging from apartments to studios.
"There would be minimal changes to the appearance of the building on Fenton Street. Further changes to fenestration, signage and railings and some enhancements to the car park area at the rear of the building are proposed but would need to be applied for separately."
The application is by Inayat Munshi of Fenton Suites Ltd.
Lancaster City Council will make a decision on planning permission in due course.
Telephone House is located opposite the Royal Mail sorting office on Fenton Street.
During the Cold War, the basement of Telephone House housed an emergency bunker to be used in the event of a nuclear strike on the Lancaster district. Although the bunker didn’t ‘officially’ exist, it was common knowledge amongst staff who worked there until the basement area was cleared towards the end of the '80s.
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