Hotel scheme is thrown out

Lee Dribben had applied to Blackpool Council for permission to make alterations to The Continental Hotel on Queen Street.

But the application was refused after it was considered the proposed designs were out of keeping with the Town Centre Conservation area which includes Queen Street.

A planning report accompanying the decision says: “The loss of the original frontage and the attractive bays would be most unfortunate and would undermine the historic character of the block due to the unsympathetic designs and materials.”

It added the scale of the alterations was too great because it involved replacing much of the front of the building with glazing.