A DERELICT and half-built hotel described as a ‘house of horror’ could be converted to 16 brand new apartments.

The old filling station on the A40 in Windrush near Northleach could be facing a complete renovation after plans have been submitted to convert the eye-sore into an apartment building.

If plans made by Keay Homes (Windrush) Ltd are approved, the half-built hotel will be obliterated to make room for a selection of new two-bedroom flats, suitable for three to four people.

It is understood the developers will also remove a petrol station which has never been used, a restaurant and a car park from site.

The unfinished hotel has been sitting on the A40 at Windrush for the last eight years and was described as a ‘disgrace’ and a ‘wasted opportunity’ by chairman of Windrush parish meeting Mike Pretty.

He added that he hoped that some of the facilities that had never materialised may still one day be created.

“You can talk to anybody in the area and the first reaction to this news of the planning application is that anything is better than what is there now,” he said.

But Mr Pretty continued to say that the plans needed to be looked at in detail as what the developers have planned for the long run might not be in the best interest of the village.

“We need to look behind these plans. We need to be cautious. There will be a significant change from a commercial building to a permanent residential situation.”

Previously a transport cafe, building work began on the site to make way for Windrush Heights Hotel in 2001.

Yet, the work abruptly stopped in May 2005, mere weeks from completion, and residents were left with an abandoned building and a blot on the landscape.

“There is no doubt though that whatever is built will be visually better than what we have now. We’ve put up with increasing misery for years. More graffiti has even appeared on the walls now,” continued Mr Pretty.

CDC planning officer Martin Perks, who advised the developer about the plans said: “Whilst officers would have difficulty in supporting a purely residential scheme there may be scope to undertake a mixed commercial and residential scheme which involves building out the petrol station and restaurant and converting the motel to apartments.”

To comment on the planning application, visit the Cotswold District Council Planning Portal online and search with planning reference 13/02463/OUT. The deadline for comments is November 1.