Work is to take place at the Royal Hotel in Ashby to carry out repairs and alterations to the 'decaying' roof and the 'extremely poor condition' stonework.

But while North West Leicestershire District Council says that the work would affect the Royal's 'historic fabric', it would improve the significance of the Grade II* listed building.

Owner Simon Dawson, of Oakland Hotels, applied for planning permission for the repairs in October.

The District Council gave the go-ahead today (Monday) for the work to start.

A council officer's report reads: "Each stone elevation is in 'extremely poor' condition, according to a report prepared for the applicant in 2020.

"About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of each elevation has been 'rendered over in an attempt to repair the delaminating stone'.

Plans for 17 town houses on the Royal site have been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council

"Render repairs 'have been carried out in cement mortars' and many repairs are 'loose, partially de-bonded or hollow.

"The remainder of the stone veneer is 'severely delaminating'; the veneer is 'cracking where iron cramps are present and is detaching or bowing in localised areas'.

"Similarly 'a vast amount of mortar repair has been carried out to the window surrounds' and the remainder is 'delaminating with mould peeling away in large sections".

"The report says that all roof coverings are 'suffering from a lack of maintenance and care' and hence 'widespread leaks and decay' are evident.

"There is evidence that 'later interventions and attempted holding repairs are failing'.

"It is proposed to carry out repairs and alterations to the roof.

"The proposal includes 'relaying of the existing roof covering' and the replacement of 'areas of lead lining'."

A scheme to redevelop the site to include 17 town houses was made around the same time, but has yet to go before the District Council's planning committee.

Those plans went before Ashby de la Zouch Town council's planning committee later in October.

However, Historic England later issued a detailed report explaining why it has concerns about the plans.

In the meantime, Oakland Hotels is to begin work on the hotel which has huge support in the town from residents who want to see it re-opened.

The hotel and car park have been closed for almost five years

The District Council report adds that the work to be carried out is likely to result in a 'loss of historic fabric - but says it will be justified.

It reads: "Generally the proposed repair works would result in some loss of historic fabric and hence some harm.

"However the condition report offers a clear and convincing justification for the proposed repair works and a heritage benefit would arise from 'reducing or removing risks to a heritage asset'.

"The proposal to render the upper floors of each stone elevation would cause harm, but this element of the proposal would constitute an appropriate 'alternative approach' that would result in 'less overall loss of original fabric'.

"The proposed 'introduction' of new areas of lead lining and the replacement of existing polycarbonate lanterns 'with glass' would enhance the significance of the listed building.

"In summary the proposed works would cause less than substantial harm to the significance of the listed building.

"However a clear and convincing justification for the harm has been made, and the harm would be outweighed by the heritage benefits arising.

"The proposed works would conserve the significance of the listed building."