Plans to convert Cromer's Bath House into four self-contained homes include restoring the building's historic first-floor balcony.

North Norfolk News: Jane Kinnaird, from Coventry, who has bought Cromer's Bath House for subdivision and further sale in 2019, and builder Matthew Boycott. Picture: STUART ANDERSONJane Kinnaird, from Coventry, who has bought Cromer's Bath House for subdivision and further sale in 2019, and builder Matthew Boycott. Picture: STUART ANDERSON (Image: Archant)

Work on the pale-yellow building on the prom - just a stone's throw from Cromer Pier - has stalled as its new owner, Jane Kinnaird, is awaiting planning permission.

But provided North Norfolk District Council gives the go-ahead, she plans to install a new balcony along the front of the Bath House's main facade - similar to one that existed when the building was used as a hotel.

Ms Kinnaird, from Coventry, bought the 1814 building for £1.2m after it had languished on the market - empty and unused - for years.

Though it had been used as a pub/hotel for much of the 20th Century, it was converted into a luxury private home by Dr Barry Connell and his wife Anji in the early 2000s.

North Norfolk News: An historic postcard showing the Bath House with a blueish hue on Cromer's promenade. Image: PLANNING AND ACCESS STATEMENTAn historic postcard showing the Bath House with a blueish hue on Cromer's promenade. Image: PLANNING AND ACCESS STATEMENT (Image: Archant)

Ms Kinnaird bought it with hopes of returning it to use by converting it to four two-bedroom homes for individual sale.

She said: 'The project seems to be going quite well.

'We need to get planning permission now, that's crucial at this stage.

'So we can't progress very much until we get that.'

North Norfolk News: An historic image of the Bath House showing the building's former first-foor balcony. Its new owner plans to restore the balcony to the iconic Cromer address. Image: PLANNING AND ACCESS STATEMENTAn historic image of the Bath House showing the building's former first-foor balcony. Its new owner plans to restore the balcony to the iconic Cromer address. Image: PLANNING AND ACCESS STATEMENT (Image: Archant)

MORE: The Bath House - New chapter beckons for iconic seafront propertyThe plan is that the eastern side of the building, closest the pier, will have two two-story maisonettes with living space on the ground floor and bedrooms on the first floor.

The western side of the building will also have two homes, one entirely on the ground floor and one on the first floor.

A planning and access statement submitted as part of the planning application says: 'The proposed elevations highlight the reinstallation of the Bath House balcony to the first floor of the two houses, this will recreate a historical feature of the Bath House and a new point of interest on the Cromer Esplanade.'

Ms Kinnaird said she hoped the converted homes would be ready to go on the market by summer, but she did not yet know what the asking price would be.

North Norfolk News: Bath house, Cromer, for sale with Sowerbys. Pic: www.sowerbys.comBath house, Cromer, for sale with Sowerbys. Pic: www.sowerbys.com (Image: Archant)

Originally built as a reading room, the Bath House become a spa when bathing facilities were added in 1824.

The planning documents - reference number PF/19/0215 - are now on the council's website.

North Norfolk News: Bath house, Cromer, for sale with Sowerbys. Pic: www.sowerbys.comBath house, Cromer, for sale with Sowerbys. Pic: www.sowerbys.com (Image: Archant)