Glade Dale heard of the problems facing one of the biggest developers of residential care homes some weeks ago.

Bovis Retirement Homes was buying an historic building in up and coming Brighton where developers were falling over themselves to snap up properties.

The French Convalescent Home had everything - superb views across the English Channel, thousands of square feet of space and some unique period features.

Unfortunately for Bovis, it had recently been awarded Grade II listed building status, which meant its hopes of turning it into a care home were nil.

Bovis had a £1.5 million white elephant on its hands which it wanted to dispose of - fast.

Glade Dale was approached with the proposal via an agent in the past four weeks and the deal was completed on Monday afternoon. So quickly, in fact, that the buyers didn't even have time to complete a survey on the property.

There was also only time for brief discussions with planners at Brighton and Hove Council before Glade Dale agreed to buy Bovis out of its contract.

Glade Dale spokesman Ross Brodie said: "From our point of view, we had a very limited time to look at the building.

"We had only time for very limited discussions with planners who said in principle that to safeguard the building the principle of residential use was acceptable."

The Surrey-based firm is aware of the controversy which surrounded the closure of the French Convalescent Home and is keen to let the matter lie. The saga is probably one which Bovis wants to forget.

It began in 1997, when the French trustees of the home decided to sell-up claiming it was no longer viable or served its purpose as a home for patients of the London French Hospital, which closed in the Fifties.

The Argus championed the battle to keep it open and save its 39 elderly residents from having to move after it was revealed Bovis planned to buy the building and bulldoze it to make way for a six-storey block of 67 sheltered flats.

The firm claimed it would meet a shortfall of sheltered accommodation in the towns. In fact, there was a 50 per cent over-supply of care home accommodation.

A petition was launched to save the home, which was signed by 4,000 people.

Support came from figures including the Bishop of Chichester, boxer Chris Eubank and MP Des Turner.

Our appeals for the Government to list the building bore fruit in January when Culture Minister Alan Howarth gave it Grade II status.

Despite this victory, Bovis insisted the sale was too late to cancel and all the elderly residents had to be out to meet a condition of vacant possession written into the deal.

If the exercise proved a public relations disaster for Bovis, it has also left a bitter taste in the mouth of thousands of Brighton residents who fought for the home's residents to be allowed to stay.

Mr Brodie stressed that any row the people of Brighton had with Bovis and the French trustees is not something his firm wants to get involved in. It is no surprise that Glaze Dale bought the home as a business investment and is looking to make a profit from the deal.

Provided the scheme is approved, a total of 16 flats will be built inside the home. Because of its unusual interior and the strict listing controls, they are expected to range from very small homes to luxury accommodation which could sell for upwards of £250,000.

Since the home was vacated a few months ago, it has already started to fall into disrepair. The roof is leaking into the attic where pigeons are now nesting and window frames are badly rotted.

Converting the French Convalescent Home into flats may not be the outcome which campaigners had been hoping for. But it may now be the only option left.

Diary of the French Home battle October 1997: The home's trustees announce they are planning to close because it is no longer viable.

November 2, 1999: The Argus reports how Bovis Retirement homes plans to demolish the building when it becomes owner.

November 4: The Argus launches a petition to save the home, eventually signed by more than 4,000 people.

November 10: Brighton and Hove Council writes to Culture Secretary Chris Smith urging him to list the building.

December 2: Campaigners vow to battle on after the Government decides against listing - eight days later it promises to think again.

January 26, 2000: The Government announces it will list the building. Bovis says the home must still close.

May: The last of the home's residents leave.

July: Glade Dale Homes buys Bovis out of the contract and on July 31 becomes owner of the building.