Controversial plans to convert an Indian restaurant in Whitchurch into a hotel have been given the go ahead after major changes were made.

Shropshire Council has given the go ahead to plans to convert Railway Spice on Talbot Street after having previously been rejected for planning permission.

The plans put forward by Actb Properties Ltd, will see the 19th Century building being converted into a hotel, with four ground floor rooms and seven bedrooms on the first floor, which will include a rooftop bar area.

READ MORE: Whitchurch Town Council objects to Railway Spice hotel and roof bar plans

Previous versions of the design had been objected by Whitchurch Town Council for issues surrounding the plans.

These included overdevelopment of the site, unsympathetic design, traffic issues and the designs “not reflecting a ‘realistic’ view of the surrounding streetscape and buildings”.

However, Mayor Cllr Andy Hall has since said that the new design is now much more in keeping with the surroundings.

“The first plan that came out was monstrously oversized for the plot and parking spaces and so forth,” said Cllr Hall.

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“It wasn’t in-keeping with the conservation area of the town. Since then, the applicants have put new plans in and to be fair they listened to our concerns they have reduced the size of what they were going to do.

“We have no objections to these new plans which seem quite reasonable and favourable to the town.

“As a town council we are always there to support new business we do think that accommodation is needed in Whitchurch for a hotel, so we hope they do well.”

The new plans include a 46 cover restaurant on the ground floor and a 44-seat bar on the first floor.

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In their application the developers said: “The restaurant and bar will be formed extensively by tri-glazed, ‘guillotine’ window systems, and part retractable roof system, that allow part opening of the areas during warm, dry weather”.

The planning officer for Shropshire Council concluded that the proposal was considered to be 'acceptable in principle' and has overcome the previous reasons for refusal raised under application 23/04179/FUL.

The planning application was approved subject to conditions.