Work is finally due to start on converting a convalescent home into flats, more than 15 months after the last elderly resident left.

Developer Gladedale Homes has confirmed it expects to begin conversion work on the Grade II-listed French Convalescent Home in De Courcel Road, Kemp Town, Brighton, in the next few weeks.

New occupants could be moving in to the 14 two and three-bedroom flats by next summer.

Steve Ursell, commercial director of Gladedale, said: "We have substantial experience of working with listed buildings and are trying to develop a specialisation in heritage buildings. As a result we are trying to retain as many of the original features as possible."

There was uproar two years ago when Bovis wanted to pull it down and build sheltered housing.

After a vigorous campaign by The Argus, the building was listed and the developers abandoned their plans.

However the home's French trustees closed the building, forcing dozens of residents to move elsewhere.

Gladedale paid £1.5 million to take on the contract from Bovis.

After the home closed, former manager Catherine Gennaro set up Renaissance Care, a home care service for the elderly and infirm.

Next month Renaissance, based in Edward Street, Brighton, celebrates the anniversary of its official opening.

Mrs Gennaro said: "We're still here but it's not been as easy as everyone had hoped.

"We are inundated with work. The hardest thing is trying to do the job without adequate funding."

Renaissance Care is applying for charitable status after it failed to win lottery funding.

Mrs Gennaro added: "I drive past the building and it looks so dilapidated. All the trauma could have been avoided. It's so sad."