A PLAN to convert one of Southend’s most popular guest houses into flats has been recommended for approval as its owner battles motor neurone disease.

The owners of the Gleneagles Hotel in Clifftown Parade, in Southend, want to convert the Grade II listed building into seven flats.

Garry Lowen and his wife Penny have run the guesthouse for almost ten years but Mr Lowen, 63, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease – a terminal condition.

A previous application was turned down earlier this year, with a number of reasons given for refusal, including a loss of visitor accommodation and a design for an outbuilding that was “out of keeping” to the existing building which is in a conservation area.

Mr Lowen said: “The planning officers just wanted some changes to the listed building aspect of things so we’ve done that.

“This isn’t something we wanted to do but my illness is terminal and Penny can’t run it on her own.

“We tried selling the guesthouse but the hospitality industry has taken the biggest hit of the pandemic.

“Nobody wants to buy anything like this anymore and the banks won’t lend for hospitality businesses.”

Mr Lowen added: “You have to live life to the full because you never know what’s coming around the corner.”

The 14-bedroom guesthouse site includes 5 Clifftown Parade and the lower two floors of 6 Clifftown Parade.

If approved it will be converted to five, one-bedroom and two, twobedroom flats.

The new application includes the removal of external modern porch to front, demolition of modern extension to rear of number 5 Clifftown Parade and the reinstatement of sash windows.

The council has a policy of protecting visitor accommodation but can make allowances if a business fails to sell, usually within two years of being on the market.

Despite being on the market for less than two years, planning officer concluded “the public benefits of the amended proposal, including the provision of good quality housing and the significant enhancements to the listed building are of sufficient public benefit to the borough to overcome the negative aspects of the proposal in relation to the loss of visitor accommodation.”