Ashby de la Zouch Town Council says it has no objections to the latest plans to redevelop the Royal Hotel site - but has asked for a number of points to be clarified.

The Town Council has called for the plans to be 'revisited' to make sure the new houses do not obscure the view of the hotel from the Bath Grounds.

A renewed planning application has been made by the Royal's owners - Simon Dawson's Oakland Hotels Ltd - which would see 17 new town houses built

The scheme is also intended to lead to the re-opening of the Royal Hotel which has been empty for the last four years.

The Town Council held its planning committee meeting last night (Monday) and debated the application. which is is for 17 townhouses, with associated car parking access, landscaping and car park to the hotel.

Councilliors raised a number of concerns - but were reluctant to object to the scheme as it was recognised that any more hold-ups would 'prolong the agony' of trying to to get the grade two* listed hotel open once more.

The council's verdict will now be considered by North West Leicestershire District Council who will decide if planning permisson is to be granted for the new scheme.

The Town Council has asked for the following points to be clarified:

• That the District Council is satisfied that the proposed development of the 17 town houses is the minimum development which is required to secure the restoration of the Royal Hotel building;

• That the District Council is satisfied that the hotel will be a viable business following the proposed restoration based on the number of bedrooms and projected occupancy rates;

• That the District Council has sufficiently robust legal arrangements in place to ensure that funds raised from the proposed development are used for the restoration of the hotel building;

The town houses are proposed to look like this but could be changed

• That the loss of 81 trees on the site will be addressed;

• That the allocation of 63 car parking spaces for the hotel is reviewed - this has been increased from the original plan but still lower than the 75 car parking spaces as specified by the Highway Authority;

• The proposal for the hammer-head turning area for refuse collection vehicles is revisited and an alternative solution found (the current plan implies a loss of car parking for users of the Bath Grounds, including the cricket club and also raises practical concerns regarding access by members of the public to the current car parking area).

The committee also said: "The Town Council also raises concerns that the view of the town houses from the Bath Grounds is significantly imposing upon the Royal Hotel listed building when they should be subservient to it. 

"The Town Council would request that the developers and local authority revisit the plans to ascertain if they could be altered to readdress the balance."

Cllr Dan Harrison told the committee: "An independent report says that construction costs would £5.5million. That's where my concern comes in.

"I don't know if there's going to be the money to go into this hotel and how they are going to do it. You have to wonder if it's going to be viable.

"We are in danger unless there is some kind of control exercised here.

"We have a heritage building, it's important to us to know that there is a future there for the people of Ashby.

An artist's impression of the new development compared to the current empty building

"This does look a lot better than what's gone before. You'll never get it perfect, because it was perfect before when the hotel was there and managed to be maintained.

"We can't worry about that we can only worry about how we go forward. I want a series of stages that are protection for us.

"If this goes through, which it well could do, re we going to be left with virtually nothing in a short period of time.

"We have to go into this open eyed, because we could look silly, we could end up being embarrassed because we are supposed to be doing this on behalf of the people of the town.

"There are thousands of people in the area who would like to see this return to what it should be.

"We need to protect the future of our hotel. "

Cllr Dave Bigby added: "Can we be sure that the hotel, as proposed, is going to be a viable business? Otherwise there's no point in doing all of this.

"Are the arrangement sufficiently robust to ensure that funds raised from the development are indeed to be used to restore the hotel in accordance with the application.

"We need to make sure everything is correct."

Cllr Graham Allman said: Allman: "This is still not viable.

"Analyse the figures a bit more, and you'll see that there is a projected occupancy of 79 per cent.

"On 29 bedrooms that diddly squat isn't it? It can't be done."