Blackpool Council today revealed it has bought four properties on Crystal Road, South Shore, as part of a pilot project to change holiday properties into high quality residential use.

Architects have drafted proposals which show how properties can be transformed into three and four bedroomed houses with gardens by removing extensions and roof lifts which are not part of the original footprint of the building.

This means that even hotels with in the region of 10 bedrooms could be converted.

Using Government money, around £130,000 would be earmarked towards refurbishing each property to a high standard, the houses would then sold under a shared ownership scheme.

Hoteliers on Crystal Road have expressed concern over the future of their properties.

The proposals will go on display tomorrow at a drop-in day for all members of the public being held at St Peter's Church Hall, Lytham Road, from 12 noon until 7pm.

Steve Matthews, head of strategic housing at Blackpool Council, said: "We want to demonstrate how we can turn some streets into really good quality places for people to live.

"We want to talk to the local community to see how we can make this happen, but we have some ideas to bring to the table."

The move is part of a strategy to tackle the over-supply of holiday accommodation in Blackpool but the council says it remains determined to prevent houses in multiple occupation from opening.

The council has already purchased numbers 5, 23, 39 and 48 Crystal Road. Its proposals include:

- 5, Crystal Road: Currently has planning permission for three flats but the council wants to convert it to a three or four bedroom home with a roof terrace.

- 23, Crystal Road: Take the roof lift off and create a three bedroom house with a garden.

- 39, Crystal Road: Convert to a three bedroom house.

- 48, Crystal Road: A property with 16 rooms which could be made into a four bedroom house with a garden by knocking down extensions at the back.

Options for managing on-street parking will also be discussed at Thursday's drop-in day.

The Crystal Road Action Group has already raised concerns that properties falling into disuse could become Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Spokesman David Askham, who runs Crystal Lodge self catering holiday apartments, says people want the street to retain its place within the resort's tourism offer.

Simone Robinson, who owns the nine-bedroom Bedmond Hotel with husband Alan, said: "We have been told so many rumours that it is all very unsettling for the hoteliers who have been trading well over the past year.

"The road does need doing up a bit but not knowing the futures is very worrying."

And Noreen Westhead, who owns The Camelot House, added: "It's just the uncertainty of not knowing what is going to happen that is concerning.

"We are hoping the council will turn the properties into nice homes and not social housing as we have already lived through 18 moths of hell next door with that."