Derby B&B set for new lease of life as new plan unveiled

Developers have outlined the potential for the site

A long-serving Derby bed and breakfast is set for a new lease of life as a 16-bed bedsit housing 26 people. Thornhill Lodge Guest House in Thornhill Road has been run as a bed and breakfast for more than 20 years but was put on the market last year for £850,000 and now plans have been filed to turn it into three flats in multiple occupation.

The plans, submitted on behalf of IGNITE Enterprises Ltd, would see the bed and breakfast turned into a six bedroom flat housing nine people, a six-bedroom flat housing 10 people and a four-bedroom flat housing seven people – totalling 16 bedrooms and 26 occupants. A decision will be made by Derby City Council in the next few months.

In a statement submitted with their application, the developers wrote: “The current building use is a 12-bedroom bed and breakfast and has been operated as such for over 20 years. The current operators are now looking to retire and the property has been purchased by Ignite Enterprises to refurbish and convert the accommodation into a use that is more aligned with the current market around the area.

“The introduction of residential units on the site will reuse an existing building that is currently underutilised and in need of attention. By providing a residential scheme, this will prevent potential nuisance and vandalism from the area which will improve the locality for the neighbouring residents.

“The high quality product of this proposal will result in revamping the area visually, improving the street scene and propelling future generation of development and overall improvement in localised areas across the city. The scheme mimics what has already been approved and seen developed recently around Thornhill Road, which suggests a suitable redevelopment opportunity on this site due to the larger property’s potential.

“The development of the property aids the maintenance of the building as a whole, which has grown somewhat tired over the last few years of its life. With this development, the property will be provided with a new lease of life.

“Overall, the site presents itself as a great opportunity to provide much needed high quality housing within Derby.”

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