THE OWNERS of a guest house have launched a second bid to turn it into flats after one of them was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Garry and Penny Lowen, owners of the Gleneagles Guest House in Southend applied to convert grade II listed building into flats following Garry’s diagnosis with motor neurone disease in April.

The initial application was rejected in August, and the couple have submitted fresh plans in a second attempt to sell up.

Mr Lowen, 62, says the plans are a ‘last resort’ and not something they want to do, but rather feel they have to, as a result of his diagnosis.

The plans would see the Clifftown Parade hotel converted into seven flats.

“The biggest hurdle is the council’s planning policy which says they must not lose ‘visitor accommodation’,” Gary explained.

Mr Lowen said: “We have gathered evidence to show that the loss of 12 rooms would not be a massive dent in the available accommodation in Southend. There are new hotels being planned, for example in Seaway there will be an 80-bedroom Travelodge.

The Lowen’s have undertaken their own research and estimate an extra 1,000 rooms have become available in the town since they bought the guest home nine years ago following what Mr Lowen describes as an ‘Air B&B driven explosion in the market’.

The council also raised concerns over the lack of refuse and cycle stores, which Mr Lowen and his wife have tweaked to suit council panning officers.

Mr Lowen added: “We are hopeful this time round it will all go through smoothly.

“However, It’s not something we want to do. It’s something we’re having to do because Penny can’t run the guest house on her own. We used to run it as a team and our marketing strategy, as recognised by consultants who came in and worked with us, is that Penny and I are the brand.

“But the brand is not quite as strong with just Penny, no detriment to her, it means we only have half the brand rather than the full brand.

“We now need to put ourselves ahead of the hotel as I probably only have a few years left.”