It might not be everyone's idea of an ideal home but a disused public toilet in Stoke Bishop could be transformed into a two-story house if planners give the project the go-ahead.

The owners of the block in Sea Mills Lane have already been given permission to knock down the former public conveniences and build an office but have now submitted a new application to Bristol City Council to replace it with a home.

Plans for the two-bedroom house on a plot of land next to the railway bridge include off-street parking.

The project is the vision of Steven Bird, of Sneyd Park, who regularly drove past the site and felt it had potential.

The toilets were sold at an auction in 2006 and were originally purchased by a different owner, but when Mr Bird, 39, saw the building he felt it might be ideal for his plans for an office that was wheelchair-accessible.

He has since made a temporary move to Sydney, Australia for work, so he decided to change the plans.

Despite the proximity to the Portway, Mr Bird said the site is quite quiet yet it has easy access to the nearby railway station and the motorway and has views across the water

The original planning application was approved in November and the design has only been varied slightly to turn it into a house.

Mr Bird, who project manages the redevelopment of care homes, said: "I took it up as a challenge. I used to drive past and for so many years it was in a derelict state and I always thought what a crying shame and took the chance to do something about it.

"It was always going to be a challenge."

Mr Bird said he will call the building Portus Abonae after the Roman port that was believed to have been based near the site.

Residents living near the site believe the project could be a much-needed improvement for the area.

Arthur Jones, 89, has lived in Sea Mills Lane for 70 years, and used to run a grocery store from the property on the corner opposite the site.

He said: "There could not be anything worse than what is there now. It is an eyesore and I really think that anything they did with it would be an improvement.

"I think it will increase the price of local property as long as the dwelling is not too obtrusive.

"I think it should definitely be used as a home as this is a residential area."

Jane Cornish, 61, is retired and when the block was put up for auction considered buying it and turning it into a tea room, but was outbid fairly quickly when it originally sold for £17,000.

She said: "I am glad it is being turned into something; it looks pretty unsightly at the moment.

"My only concern would be that traffic whizzes around that corner."

Derek Hanham, 49, said: "I think it's a pretty good idea. The design looks pretty imaginative and it is not as if it is going to destroy a nice green space."