Plans to allow ex-hotel to be used as massive private house

Plans to change the use of a former eight-bedroom hotel into a massive private house have been lodged with Blackpool Council.

The former Kings Court Hotel at 34 King Edward Avenue, North Shore, was classed as a small hotel or guesthouse when it was in operation but as a private house there is substantial internal accommodation across three floors.

The retrospective planning application seeks to “regularise” the current occupation of the property as a single household.

Changing a hotel into a private house or residential property can significantly increase its value if the hotel is small, outdated, or in a high-demand residential area.

A Planning Statement on behalf of the applicants said: “The building is a three-storey terraced property with a site area of approximately 224.96 square metres, providing substantial internal accommodation distributed across three floors.

“The gross internal floor areas remain unchanged and comprise approximately of the ground Floor: (108.6 m² ), first floor (86.4 m²) and second floor (82.5 m²), providing a total internal floor area of approximately 277.5 m².

“Historically the building operated as a small hotel. In more recent years, however, the building ceased operating as tourist accommodation and was instead used to provide temporary accommodation for individuals arriving in the United Kingdom from Hong Kong under the BN(O) immigration programme.

“ Since that period the building has been occupied as a single residential dwelling by one household, and the current planning application seeks to regularise that use.

“It is acknowledged that an enforcement notice has been issued alleging use as a House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4). For clarity, the property is not and has never been used as an HMO.

“The building is occupied by a single household and therefore falls within Use Class C3. The purpose of this application is therefore to regularise the existing use and resolve the alleged breach of planning control.”

The surrounding context includes a mix of uses. The Woodleigh Hotel operates to the west of the site. The Langtrys Hotel operates to the east.

The property fronts King Edward Avenue and benefits from a rear garden area with parking provision, accessible from the rear.

The statement concludes: “ The proposal involves no external alterations, preserves the character of the street scene and generates less activity than the former hotel use.

“Importantly, the property is not an HMO, and the application clarifies and regularises the correct planning use of the building.

“When assessed against national and local planning policy, the proposal represents sustainable development that causes no harm while contributing to housing provision.

“Accordingly, planning permission should be granted.”