PLANS have been approved to transform a £500k hotel into rented accommodation.

Barrow Borough Council has given the green light to plans to convert the Chequers Hotel in Dalton into rented accommodation.

The hotel was sold in 2020 after its sudden closure the year before.

New owners Robert and Elizabeth Beck submitted plans to the authority in January to refurbish the building.

Plans have been approved to demolish the hotel’s Castle Suite and create a function room, bar and kitchen to make way for manager’s accommodation with the other building on the site being turned into rooms to let.

The plans also state that the suite would add four bedrooms to let and there would be two employees on the site,

A statement submitted by architects said: “The demolition of the redundant Castle Suite and ancillary rooms is being managed as part of the overall refurbishment of the Chequers site into letting accommodation.

“The demolition will reveal the original rear wall of the building where original openings will be altered to meet current requirements.

“The outside area will be landscaped to provide space for additional parking as required.

“We have been commissioned to design interior alterations to the western wing and to the rear of the building.

“The existing two-storey wing is to be internally segregated from the remainder of the building to provide on-site managers accommodation.

“A central area of the main building currently comprising kitchens, guest toilets and hotel office is to be redesigned into guest rooms.

“Our design has focussed on providing modern and simple accommodation in keeping with the nature and scale of the external appearance.

“The principles of sustainability and energy conservation have been considered as part of the design.”

Land Registry data showed the hotel changed hands for £500,000 and was bought by the pair, who own other properties in Barrow.

Bosses of the hotel and wedding venue announced it would close in June 2019.

More than 50 functions which were due to be held at Chequers were cancelled after the company behind the venue fell into financial difficulties.

A number of rival venues stepped in to help stranded couples find a new location for their wedding while it is understood the majority of the 30 employees also found new jobs at other hotels and restaurants.