The owners of a hotel wish to convert it into a 18-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) as it is "no longer financially viable".

Plans published by Bury Council reveal the Hawthorn Hotel on Stand Lane in Radcliffe could become "much needed additional accommodation in the area", according to applicant Seif Taha.

A planning statement supporting the plans to change the use of the Hawthorn from hotel to residential cites the impact that "Covid-19 and the recent down turn in the economy has had on the hospitality sector over the last few years".

The statement adds: “The proposal is based upon the building being no longer financially viable for hotel use, and follows the general trend for commercial buildings such as public houses and independent hotels seeking to move to the rental market.

“The principle behind the development is to retain the existing building, and to adapt it internally in the most appropriate and sensitive manner to accommodate the HMO, and will be based largely on the existing layout of bedrooms within the hotel.

“The proposal conversion involves no alterations to the exterior structure of the building and preserves the footprint of the existing building with the addition of a single storey extension at the rear.

“The development will provide much needed additional accommodation in the area due the lack of use of the hotel rooms.

“The proposed rooms are for sole occupancy only.”

The application states there is an on street car parking bay at the front of the building for eight vehicles and an on site car park at the rear for six vehicles.

The area is locally known as Chapel Field and the hotel is between Stand Lane at the front and King Street at the rear. Stand Lane is a trunk road connecting Radcliffe town centre to Whitefield via Ringley Road.

On hotel booking websites, the Hawthorn is described three-star accommodation with 18 rooms. Last week plans were approved to convert another Bury hotel into two HMOs.

In a separate application, the long-established Rostrevor Hotel on Manchester Road, Bury, had plans agreed to convert the property into two nine-bedroom HMOs.

The four-storey Rostrevor, close to Bury town centre, is the combination of two semi-detached Victorian properties.