A former Sunday School and cottage in Macclesfield look set to be converted into seven apartments and a one-bed dwelling after plans to build eight houses on the site were refused.

Cheshire East Council turned down an application two years ago for the buildings on the corner of Townley Street and Charlotte Street to be bulldozed to make way for eight, three-bedroom town houses.

The subsequent appeal was dismissed on matters relating to heritage and flood risk.

Now The Old Sunday School Townley Street Ltd has applied for permission to convert, extend and alter the former Sunday school buildings to create seven one-bedroom apartments and one one-bedroom dwelling.

A planning, design and access statement, submitted by AE Planning Consultants on behalf of the applicant, says: "In light of the appeal decision, it has now been decided that the most appropriate and only way forward is to promote the re-use and alteration of the two buildings which have been vacant since 2010.

"The site continues to detract from the appearance of the area and has been the subject of anti-social behaviour and neighbour complaints to the police."

The former Sunday school building was built in 1802/03 and enlarged to accommodate an extra storey in 1822.

It was formerly part of the United Reform Church.

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The planning document states: "The dwellings would be created within the confines of the envelope of the existing buildings.

"There would be seven, one-bedroom units in the larger of the two buildings, with the smaller former cottage building being used to provide the space for a further one-bedroom unit over two floors of accommodation.

"There would be no change to the scale of the existing buildings."

It continues: "The proposal does not provide any parking spaces since none are deemed to be necessary in this highly sustainable town centre location."

The application, number 26/1472/FUL, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council's website.

The last date for submitting comments is June 2.