Proposals for the conversion of a former village hotel into a supported living facility have received approval from the council.

Copeland Borough Council's planning panel decided to grant permission for the conversion of the former Grove Court Hotel in Cleator into a supported living facility last week.

The former hotel suffered a fire in July 2019, and ceased trading a month later.

The proposal from Riversdale Homes outlines plans to convert the former hotel into 13 self-contained supported living apartments, in addition to communal facilities and staff office space. Approval means that plans can be carried out over the next three years.

It is planned that the new facility will accommodate people with learning disabilities and/or "other mental health disabilities", who require "person-centric support" in a supported living environment housed at the former hotel site.

Riversdale Homes hopes to provide the support necessary to enable residents to "live independently long term".

A team of six staff members will be on hand to deliver care to residents, potentially rising to "eight on occasions if required".

"This will comprise two or three staff providing background care to residents with the remaining staff providing specific care to individual residents based upon their specific assessed needs including assistance with movement for those with physical disabilities," Copeland planning officers previously outlined in documents prepared for the planning panel meeting held on February 17th.

After reviewing the proposal, the Copeland Disability Forum advisory body declared that they "fully support" the application and that the new facility will be"a great addition for Copeland".

There had been a small number of objections raised with the council, outlining concerns over the "potential for increased crime and fear of crime" should the facility house individuals who have a criminal history or issues with addiction, in addition to concern over housing individuals with mental health issues "next to a residential area".