PLANS to convert one of Blackburn’s oldest buildings into hotel rooms have been submitted.

The historic Hornby House, a grade II listed building, is located next to the Kings Hotel on King Street.

Kings Hotel Blackburn currently has 13 rooms and it housed NHS staff and key workers during earlier national lockdowns.

Plans have now been submitted to add an additional 21 en-suite rooms which would make it one of the largest budget hotels in Blackburn town centre offering a total of 34 rooms.

The building has a blue plaque commemorating the birthplace of AN Hornby, who captained England at both cricket and rugby and was a Blackburn Rovers player.

The regeneration project is being run by 27-year-old Waqas Ishtiaq of Nextoria Property Solutions.

Mr Ishtiaq said: “The decision was taken after all the positive feedback that the hotel has received. It has been hard adapting with Covid 19 but we have made it work.

“We expect the project will cost over £100,000 and will create over a dozen jobs for local residents.

“The hotel has been open since last February and offers rooms starting from £35 a night, with discounts of up to 50% off for NHS staff.”

Mr Ishtiaq took over the building in October 2019 and says he has already spent £50,000 redeveloping it.

He added: “We opened the hotel last year and then, unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic took hold and we really have not had a chance to get off the ground.”

It is hoped if plans are passed renovations will take three months to complete. Number 41 in its entirety and the first and second floors of number 39 will become part of one hotel.

The Cellar Bar, formerly one of Blackburn’s most popular venues, is located in the basement area of the building and is not part of these plans. Presently the ground floor is being occupied by a clothing outlet and the Cellar Bar will be re-opened as the ‘Cellar Lounge’ – a games lounge.