PLANS to form a hotel with 13 rooms in Helensburgh town centre have been given the go-ahead by council officers.
Arthur Bates’ proposal for the site at 48-50 Sinclair Street has been awarded planning permission after Argyll and Bute Council received no representations from the public.
The building was originally used as council offices before being sold in 2015, with part of the site becoming Peckhams Restaurant. A council handling report states that the areas used for building and function suites will be retained as such.
It also said that an area granted permission for use as a delicatessen will be used to form the hotel access and reception area.
A planning statement for the official application was written on notepaper headed ‘The Townhouse’. A separate application for listed building consent is yet to be ruled on by the local authority.
A council official said: “The application site includes part of a property that was granted planning approval for the change of use of vacant former council offices to a combination of licensed restaurant, bar, retail licensed delicatessen with part class three use, function suites and the formation of six residential managed rented apartments on the first and second floors.
“This application seeks approval for the change of use of the six residential apartments to form a hotel with 13 rooms including the provision of reception and laundry.
“It is noted that the areas previously granted approval for use as licensed restaurant/bar and function suites will be retained as such and do not from part of this application. It is confirmed that no external alterations are proposed to facilitate the proposed change of use.
“With regards to the proposed development at ground floor level, the area presently granted consent for the use as a retail licensed delicatessen with part class three use is proposed to from the hotel access and reception area as well as a laundry, luggage store, office, WC and an accessible hotel room with ensuite.
“At first floor level, the area presently granted consent for the use as two residential apartments is proposed to form four en-suite hotel rooms and at second floor level, the area presently granted consent for the use as four residential apartments is proposed to form eight en-suite hotel rooms.”
The official concluded: “On the basis of the above it is confirmed that having regard to all material considerations it is considered that the proposal is acceptable.”
