The Press & Journal has reported that Lewis Builders plans to convert the B-listed Lady Matheson Seminary into six flats to provide “much needed” social housing in the town.

The developer, which purchased the building from community estate landlord the Stornoway Trust in 2014, said it is in talks with local housing association Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) about the project.

The building has spent decades crumbling into disrepair. Elements of the roof and its original stone walling have now been described as “dangerous” and in a state of “imminent collapse” by architects called in by developers.

Their newly published report states that “substantial investment” is required to prevent the complete loss of the historic landmark.

And it adds that a complete “strip out of the interior” is the only viable and safe option for the Stornoway construction firm to proceed with proposals to rejuvenate it.

The seminary design is described as a “rare survival” of the educational philosophy of the Glasgow philanthropist, David Stow, with large single classrooms with a gallery at one end.

The new proposals would maintain the original rooflines, window arrangements and styles, externally exposed stonework and all significant external features.

The developer said it is committed to salvaging important and historically significant features as far as is practicable and will “sensitively” replace elements to match the original wherever possible – including reusing salvaged features.