PLANS have been lodged to convert a former Barrow pub into an aparthotel to meet the demand for short-term letting accommodation in the town.

St David Sapphire Ltd has submitted a planning application to Westmorland and Furness Council to convert the vacant Brewery Inn on Cavendish Street into a 13-bedroom aparthotel.

The planning, design and access statement says: “The proposal seeks to transform the property from its current use as a vacant public house with letting rooms to an aparthotel (C1) comprising 13 rooms, which will be finished and furnished to a high standard and which will help to meet the demand in the town for short term letting accommodation for employees and contractors servicing the BAE shipyard.”

Previously the council approved plans in October from the developer to convert the former pub into two houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).

The approved proposals consist of a five bed HMO on the ground floor and a seven bed HMO across the first and second floors.

Planning documents submitted by the applicant state: “The proposal is not substantially different from the previously consented HMO proposal but will permit shorter‐term lettings, which the applicant has identified as the predominant accommodation demand in the town for the foreseeable future.

“Compared with the previous consented scheme, there are minor external alterations and internal layout changes.”

According to planning documents all rooms will have en-suite shower rooms, three of the larger rooms will have separate living and sleeping areas and four rooms will have kitchen facilities.

Plans say the rooms can be booked for as little as one night or for extended periods of up to three months, but they are not intended for use as a principal home.

The rooms will be booked online, and the technology to be installed will allow the resident to ‘self‐check in’ without a permanent reception facility. Management and cleaning staff will be at the property between every booking, plans add.