A 19th century former house and office building in Gloucester could become a new hotel and its extension converted into flats, with two planning applications being submitted this April 2025.
The owner of the Grade II-listed Beaufort House on Brunswick Road – part of the former offices of Ecclesiastical Insurance, which moved to a new HQ in 2021 – has applied to Gloucester City Council for permission to convert it into a 36-room hotel; with a separate application also submitted to turn its adjoining office extension into 67 self-contained flats.
Beaufort House was built in the early 19th century as part of a 'classical style' terraced row of housing associated with the Gloucester Spa Company, while the office extension was added in the 1970s.
Consultants say that the Grade II-listed building would be 'preserved and enhanced' through the scheme, describing the development as an appropriate use of the site due to its convenient location near many of the city's tourist attractions, including Gloucester Park, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester Quays and the city centre shopping area.
No changes would be made to the exterior of the three-storey building, with the plans proposing a new internal layout for its 1593.5 sqm of floor space.
The ground floor and lower ground floor would comprise a hotel office, storage and plant room space, a kitchen and two dining room areas for guests, while the upper ground floor and first floor level would accommodate the hotel reception, a residents' lounge and bar area and 10 bedrooms.
The second floor would provide 14 bedrooms including a family suite, with 12 bedrooms on the third floor.
An external seating area terrace is also proposed to the rear of the building, accessed via the main dining room, while seven parking spaces for guests and four for staff would be retained under the plans.
Prior approval is also being sought to convert the office extension into 67 self-contained flats, which would be a mixture of one and two bedrooms and make use of 21 existing parking spaces on site.
The flats application is due to be decided in May, with a decision on the hotel expected in July 2025.
