The owner of a town centre hotel says he is delighted to have won an appeal to develop a historic building.

The King’s Hotel on King Street opened during lockdown and applicant Waqas Ishtiaq had submitted a retrospective plan for this and also a new application to extend the hotel into the adjoining Hornby House.

However earlier this year, the plans were rejected by planners again, after it was first turned down in 2021. The Kings Hotel site only had permission to be used as an events space, boxing club, and coffee bar.

The building is one of the oldest in town with Hornby House, the birthplace of A.N. Hornby who played for Blackburn Rovers and captained England in both cricket and rugby union.

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Mr Ishtiaq of Nextoria Ltd said he had made great efforts to rejuvenate the buildings which up until he had taken over were in disrepair and unused.

He said: “Four years ago when I started this project I didn’t think it would take this long to get planning but I am pleased we have finally done it. 

“We still have a long way to go to complete the expansion plans and become the largest budget hotel in Blackburn, but the recent decision means we have safeguarded what we have built.

“Kings Hotel has had over £250,000 invested in Hornby House over the last four years and the hotel is currently running on a 75 per cent to 85 per cent occupancy rate which tells me there is a demand for budget hotels in Blackburn.

“This is why an additional £300,000 investment is planned to complete the expansion which will take Kings hotel from a 15 Room hotel to a 33-room hotel.”

Lancashire Telegraph: The King's Hotel is based within one of the oldest buildings in Blackburn

Lancashire Telegraph:

A planning decision says: “The appeal is allowed and planning permission if granted for change of use at ground, firs and second floors to a C1 hotel com prising of 33 bedrooms, including ground floor ancillary hotel/breakfast/lounge/games room, creation of roof windows to the south elevation at 39-41 Hornby House, King Street.

"The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than three years  from the date of this decision.”

In June this year owners had opened The Hotel Royal based in Simmons Street, close to the newly opened Saffron Street Restaurant and Toro’s Steak House, in the heart of the town centre.