PLANS to convert part of a vacant Chester city centre building into tourist accommodation has been given the green light.

The proposal for the two upper floors of Moray House in Watergate Street – above cocktail bar Lono Cove – has been rubber stamped today (October 13) by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The change of use application was lodged by Chester-based Lily Parmar Ltd back in January this year.

It states that six rooms, including a family room, would be provided along with the creation of three jobs – two full-time roles and one part-time position.

It is believed that the two upper floors of the building were last in use prior to 2016.

In a report recommending approval, council case officer Steven Holmes said: "The proposal seeks planning permission for the change of use of the first and second floors of Moray House from offices to tourist accommodation.

"The accommodation would be managed in tandem with an existing bar on the ground floor of the building. It is described as a hotel but given the lack of services offered to guests, the use would operate more as serviced apartments or what is sometimes called an 'apart-hotel'.

"Concerns have been raised that the development would increase the level of waste generated at the site. There is an existing area used as a bin store at the rear of Moray Court and the applicant has confirmed that this would be used to dispose of waste.

"It is not considered that the operation of a hotel would necessarily lead to poor waste management at the site, nor that it would generate more waste than the lawful office use of the site.

"Given its scale and its location with the heart of the city centre, which benefits from extensive public transport links, it is not considered necessary to require the development to provide car parking.

"There is limited scope with the application site to provide an external cycle store but, given the location of the site and the scale and nature of the development, it is considered that the lack of provision would not generate sufficient harm to justify refusing planning permission and that the benefits of granting permission would outweigh the minor harm generated in this regard.

"The applicant has suggested that cycles would be allowed on site and could be stored in the bar."