Plans to turn a Victorian hotel into flats are likely to be approved next week.

Allerdale planners will recommend that the development panel approves a hybrid application to convert the Ellenbank Hotel at Birkby, just outside Maryport, into 15 flats and build an additional five detached houses on the property.

Anthea Jones, of Planning Branch Ltd, has previously said that the Victorian frontage of the hotel and the attractive grassed area in front of it would remain as they are.

She said the hotel required substantial investment and faced high ongoing maintenance costs.

Planners accepted evidence that the hotel could not be sustained as a business.

The hotel is considered to be of local significance, for both its architectural qualities and historical community value, sufficient to be considered a non-designated heritage asset.

In their recommendation, planning officers said: “The retention and securing of a viable use for this heritage asset is considered to bring a wider public benefit.

“Other social benefits of the proposal include the provision of additional housing to the Maryport locality, and the related economic benefits associated with new housing for the construction industry and in part, re-use of previously developed land.

They said bringing a prominent vacant building back into use, would also make a positive contribution to the objectives of the Council Plan and the Maryport Regeneration Project, particularly that relating to Historic Maryport, as it would secure an alternative use for this heritage asset of local importance.

The development panel meets on Tuesday.