Hotel to be converted into Airbnb for 22 guests

A Victorian hotel with an outdoor hot tub will be turned into holiday accommodation for single bookings of more than 20 people.

Plans to convert Lonsdale Villa in Scarborough into an Airbnb for private groups of up to 22 guests were approved by North Yorkshire Council.

The three-storey property at 45 Lonsdale Road is currently in use as a hotel, with manager's accommodation on the upper floor.

There will be no permanent staff presence at the site, but sound levels will be monitored electronically by a local manager, according to the submitted plans.

The application stated that the conversion would "serve the same need, but in a different way".

An outdoor hot tub will be available for use by guests. However, its use is not allowed between 21:00 and 08:00 BST.

The property also cannot be let out simultaneously to different groups, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The current communal areas, including sitting and dining rooms, will remain for future occupants to use, and the kitchen area would be a shared space for guests.

Although a manager would not be on site permanently, they would be "available 24 hours a day to control the day-to-day operations," the planning report stated.

It also noted that a digital noise monitoring device "which is GDPR-compliant but monitors ambient sound levels in decibels [will be used] without recording conversations or audio".

The device would be used to notify the property manager if noise levels exceed 70dB during quiet time hours and 75dB in the daytime.

The highways authority did not object, as it noted the property was already operating as an 11-bedroom hotel.

There is no off-street parking associated with the building, with none proposed, and the development is expected to continue to use on-street parking.

No comments or representations were made by members of the public.

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