THE historic Rockfield Hotel finally looks set to be turned into housing, following a three-year planning battle.

Owners Tom and Esther Zuger say that their attempt to convert the hotel, on Alexandra Road, Grappenhall, into a block of housing now meets with the approval of parish and borough planners, and as such is more likely to go ahead.

The Zugers say that the Rockfield is no longer viable as a business, and that their plans to convert it into housing are now far more suited to the environment of the village and have won the support of Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, which has been opposed to the various proposed schemes for the hotel in the past.

Mrs Zuger told the Guardian: "It is just a sign of the times. A number of hotels are struggling because they have no leisure facilities, but the parish council and the borough council are supporting this scheme.

"We are still in the consultation period when people can object to the plans, but this application has all the help and support from people in the conservation area."

The new plans - drawn up by the Zugers, without any developers - would see the existing hotel building turned into three town houses, with the annexe replaced by three houses as well, but with all of the current trees and greenery remaining.

Damian Boddy, clerk to Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, said: "We wanted a scheme that used the original house.

"They have done that and the rest of the scheme is sympathetic to that design. We think it is a great improvement on the previous application and therefore we are supporting it."

Comments on the plans must be sent to the borough council by June 18, when they will then be analysed by officers.