Lighthouse B&B plan gets go-ahead

The lighthouse is currently on the market for £850,000

A 175-year-old lighthouse in East Sussex looks set to be turned into a bed and breakfast.

A planning application to open up the Grade II-listed building for public use was approved by Eastbourne Borough Council on Thursday.

The lighthouse, on top of cliffs at Beachy Head, was put up for sale for £850,000 earlier this year.

The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust said it now hoped to raise enough money to turn its plan into reality.

'Absolutely elated'

The trust's Rob Wassell, from Redhill in Surrey, said: "We are absolutely elated to get approval. There were two hurdles confronting us; one was the planning committee and the second was getting the money in place.

"We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are now hoping to raise as much money as possible to turn it into a B&B."

He added: "Donations have come in to us from across the UK but we are hoping to progress with more."

Councillors backed the trust's proposal despite planning officers recommending that it be refused because of the lack of vehicle access and car parking space.

Moved from edge

A spokesman for Eastbourne Borough Council said: "The plan has been approved subject to a new access route being made available for vehicles."

Belle Toute, which boasts five bedrooms and several other rooms over three floors, has been owned by Mark and Louise Roberts since 1996.

It was a working lighthouse until 1902, since when the building has been a private home, a tea shop and the setting for the BBC drama, Life and Loves of a She-Devil.

In 1999, Mr and Mrs Roberts employed specialist engineers to lift and move the structure 56ft (17m) back from the cliff edge because of the threat of coastal erosion.