Hotel owners win seven-year fight for change of use

The owners of a Warwickshire hotel have won a seven-year battle with their local council to be allowed to use the property as a hostel for the homeless.

In 1991 Larry and Joan Hanlon, the owners of the Brightonhurst hotel, a former nursing home in Grendon, obtained permission to use 14 of the 20 rooms for a private hotel. Until the law changed in 1992 separate permission to use the building as a hostel was unnecessary.

After the law change the council repeatedly refused permission for all 20 rooms to be used. Finally, the Hanlons appealed to the secretary of state.

The council had also received complaints from local residents who objected on the grounds that people staying at the hotel were ex-offenders and drug addicts.

A final planning application for use of the building as accommodation for the homeless was submitted in April last year and approved after it went to appeal.

North Warwickshire Borough Council has been ordered to pay the cost of the couple's appeal.