A DILAPIDATED York building where the real-life Mr Micawber is believed to have worked is to be restored to its former glory.

York Conservation Trust bought 69-71 Micklegate last year as its 93rd building and now plans to spend £1 million turning it into three flats and two shops. It also hopes to add a new cottage in the rear courtyard, after demolishing a modern extension.

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According to the late York historian Hugh Murray, number 71 was previously numbered as 29 Micklegate, which housed the office of railway engineer John Birkinshaw and his clerk Richard Chicken, a famous eccentric in 19th-century York who is regarded as the inspiration for Mr Micawber in Charles Dickens' David Copperfield. Chicken worked with Dickens' brother Alfred in the office.

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In recent times, the building housed the Villa Italia restaurant until several years ago, but has more recently been home to a flurry of short-lived businesses including Campana's. The Scene, Los Locos and Masala Spice.

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The building in 2001, as Villa Italia

Philip Thake, chief executive of the Trust, said: "It's always good to have a good story with a building. The building is in the worst condition of any we have ever taken on. It's in an appalling state. That's why we bought it, because we have several buildings in Micklegate and are trying to improve the look of the street, back to the way it was. The upper floors look as if they have never been used in donkey's years."

The Trust said in a planning statement that part of the building appeared to date to the early 1600s, although most of the building is 18th-century. It said its plans would "restore and enhance" the features, most notably the 18th-century stairwell and lantern cupola in the centre of the building.

>>> 13 pictures of the abandoned building

The Trust wants to add flats in the upper floors, as has happened in the buildings on either side, but says it would be impossible to keep the ground floor as a restaurant or bar while converting the upper floors, without damaging the building's historic fabric.

Instead, it suggests the ground floor be used for A1 or A2 categories of development, which includes shops, hairdresser's, sandwich shops, estate agencies or betting shops.

The planning applications can be viewed on the City of York Council planning website - search for applications 14/02546/FUL & 14/02547/LBC.