A boutique Lichfield hotel could become two houses if plans are approved.
Proposals have been drawn up to turn Netherstowe House into two houses.
The listed building had previously been residential accommodation before being converted into a hotel in 2009.
A statement supporting the application said the location of the building meant it was not ideal for its current use.
“Netherstowe House is located within a predominately residential area some 2.5km from Lichfield city centre,” the planning statement says. “Local Plan Policy indicates the proposals for new hotel development should be directed within town centres.
“If an application was now made to use Netherstowe House as a hotel, or indeed any other economic development type of use, it is likely that the application would be refused since it would be contrary to national and local planning policies concerned with safeguarding the vitality and viability of existing town centres.
“In other words, Netherstowe House is located in an area that is not normally acceptable for such a hotel use.”
The statement added that the location had impacted on the business itself, with attempts to improve the entry to the hotel being refused by the planning department previously.
“The site has an access that is relatively long and narrow and not readily
apparent from Netherstowe Lane,” they said.
“The hotel has suffered throughout its existence in terms of guests and suppliers having difficulty finding the site entrance.
“Netherstowe House is a small boutique style hotel comprising of 14 bedrooms. It will not result in a significant loss of bedroom spaces within the city to the extent of causing a material adverse impact the city’s tourism offer.”
Full details of the proposals are available on Lichfield District Council’s planning website.
