Twelve new flats could be built on land currently occupied by a well-used Gloucester city health centre.

Planning permission is being sought on behalf of Tredworth-based Holmleigh Properties Ltd by AGA Development Consultants for the project.

City centre residents - and those seeking parking on Saturdays which can use its forecourts - will be familiar with the site of the Riknel Health centre off Park Road backing onto Gloucester Park.

The proposed plans should not impact on the health centre, which is also the headquarters of the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, but would involve a change of use of only part of the building.

In a covering letter to the city council planners Alan Steele, writing on behalf of AGS Property Developments, based at Corse, said: "The subject building is occasionally used in connection with the applicant's care company, which is for the care of adults with learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

"The function of this building has altered as the activities which used to take place are more often catered for within the individual homes of the service users.

"As such my client wishes to create 12 one-bedroomed flats for adults with leaning difficulties who can be assisted by the applicant's company to live within the community."

His clients being Holmleigh Care Homes Ltd.

"An office for staff located on the first floor which will be staffed on a shift basis to provide 24 hour support to the eight service users," said Mr Steele.

"The ground floor flats are available to accommodate people with physical disabilities whilst more ambulant occupants will live on the first floor."

"We believe a conversion of this type will bring the current building into a more useful planning use in an area of the city which will support residential use.

"A benefit being that the occupants will be non-drivers and whilst staff may drive the traffic movements will be lower than the current use."

The residential development is for 12 apartments with up to 20 per cent affordable homes.

Further detail suggests priority for the homes would be given to residents from the city and then failing that from the county. No out of county residents will be placed without written consent from Gloucestershire County Council Commissioners and the Gloucestershire City Council.