A PLANNING application to change the use of a historic hotel to a residential dwelling has been submitted to Cornwall Council.

The application is to change the use of the 12-bedroom Eagle House Hotel in Launceston from C1, hotel to C3, residential.

A planning application seeking the same outcome, submitted in May last year, was refused by Cornwall Council.

The hotel is listed for sale for £650,000 with agents Stonesmith.

Documents submitted to Cornwall Council for the current planning application state there have been more than 20 viewings since the hotel has been on the market 'with a single proposal to purchase at a significantly discounted valuation'.

The documents state that among reasons for the prospective purchasers' withdrawal was 'the impending Premier Inn'.

A feasibility study was also submitted to the council, which states: "Despite the current owners working extremely hard to improve revenue the business is in a serious loss-making situation and with the hotel requiring further significant investment the business is not deemed viable."

Cornwall Councillor for Launceston Central Alex Folkes said: "This application appears to be the same in outcome as the previous application which was rejected by the council. I would hope that this one sees the same result.

"Launceston is a growing economy and the demand for bed spaces, both for business and for leisure, is only going to grow. So the loss of hotel beds would be a loss for our town.

"Perhaps most importantly, the town has, for many years, come to rely on the function room at Eagle House as a venue for everything from wedding receptions to sports club dinners. Whilst other spaces are available to hire, there is nowhere which replicates the facilities which have been on offer at Eagle House."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.