A fire damaged Whitley Bay Church could be flattened after more than a hundred years to make way for flats.
The Trinity United Reform Church has stood on Esplanade Place since 1900 but three years ago it was gutted by a blaze.
At the time it took around 40 firefighters to bring the flames under control and those living in neighbouring buildings had to be evacuated.
After the ashes settled, ward councillor John O'Shea called for the ruined building to be demolished pointing out it was less than 100 metres away from the newly refurbished promenade and Spanish City.
Now, G O'Brien has lodged plans with the council to pull down the remains of the structure and church hall to make way for 28 apartments.
If he's given the go-ahead, Mr O'Brien will build 22 two-bedroom apartments and six one-bedroom flats along with underground and ground-level parking.
Statements submitted to the council said the church had become blighted by vandalism and is fenced off because it is not safe.
"The application site is currently fenced off with security fencing to prevent public access as the building is considered structurally unsound in its present state," said a design and access statement.
A heritage statement added: "The structure is compromised in places by poor preservation and by the effects of vandalism."
North Tyneside Council's planning committee are expected to decide on the application in late February.
