PLANS to expand a hotel in the heart of Cheltenham have been given the go-ahead.
The grade II listed Queen's Hotel, situated at the top of the Promenade, has been granted permission to build a new four-storey extension by borough councillors.
Work on the east side of the property will give the four star hotel a more symmetrical look as well as creating an extra 17 bedrooms and ground-floor function rooms.
Councillor Diggory Seacome (Lansdown, C) welcomed the plans and said the expansion would help "smarten up" the building.
He said: "I think the idea of making the hotel more symmetrical, which the development will do, is a good idea.
"I appreciate it will inconvenience some members of the public who live in the road behind the hotel but I think on balance it's a good thing for the town and it will smarten up one of Cheltenham's principle assets."
The decision to allow the plans was made at a meeting of the borough council's planning committee, and concerns were raised by members about the impact the extension could have on neighbours, particularly over the potential loss of daylight.
Councillor Rob Garnham (Park, C), told the meeting: "I understand that there will be a loss of light but that the officers have said, on balance, that it is acceptable."
The council's officers told members the loss of light was "regrettable" but that the application should be "permitted nonetheless".
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of approving the plans.
The new extension will be constructed once the hotel's existing garden room and kitchen extension are demolished.
Plans will also see changes made to the hotel's parking layout and the creation of an outside dining terrace.
The hotel, which overlooks the Imperial Gardens and Cheltenham Town Hall, currently has 79 rooms.
Eric Darde, director of operations at Mercure Hotels, the company which runs the Queen's Hotel, said: "We can confirm that we have planning permission as part of the expansion and refurbishment plans for this hotel."
