Fire-hit hotel is to become flats

The Grade II listed building's Victorian facade will not be altered

A hotel destroyed by a fire nearly five years ago has been sold and is to be converted into luxury flats.

The Grand Hotel on Plymouth Hoe has remained vacant since the blaze in September 2003.

The Grade II listed building will be converted into 24 luxury two and three-bedroom flats with a restaurant open to non-residents.

Falmouth-based developer Devington Homes said the £8m project would create about 30 jobs.

Managing Director Lawrence Butler said converting the Grand was the best way to preserve the listed building.

Planners overruled

He told BBC News: "We'd all like to see a five-star hotel in Plymouth, but unfortunately on that particular site it wouldn't work financially."

The sale comes after a long-running campaign to preserve the Grand as a hotel.

When the Falmouth-based developer first submitted its application to convert the hotel, Plymouth City Council's planning committee refused permission, having received almost 500 objections.

But the Planning Inspectorate overruled the council's decision at an appeal in January.

Work on the £8m project is scheduled to begin at the end of the summer and will take about 18 months to complete, providing work for about 50 people in the building industry.

Mr Butler said the facade of the Victorian building would not be changed.

More than 100 firefighters from across Devon and Cornwall tackled the blaze, which was caused by faulty electrical wiring. No-one was hurt.