PLANS have been submitted to convert a Manchester Road hotel into eight apartments, with an additional two townhouses in place of a car park.

The Longview Hotel, which faces The Heath and dates back to the late 19th century, could be converted back to residential use with its parking spaces in Victoria Street replaced by townhouses.

Thought to have been the home of a Victorian merchant when built between 1870 and 1890, the property is currently a 32-room hotel known for its cellar bar – the adopted headquarters of Martin Bell during his successful parliamentary campaign in 1997.

Developers say the new apartments and town houses – within and just outside the Knutsford Conservation Area, respectively – would meet the need for housing while also ‘restoring’ the property.

A heritage statement adjoining the planning application said: “The proposals ... aim to enhance the conservation area’s character by restoring an existing building, whose design is typical of the conservation area and revert to the designer’s original intentions.”

The development would have 12 parking spaces – a loss of three.

Plans read: “This scheme proposes a modest, yet sophisticated residential development of an existing building typical of its surroundings and heritage.

“The conversion provides the building with a new lease of life enabling its individuality to be expressed and celebrated.

“A space currently being used as surface car parking responds to local residential demand and provides the market with much needed housing.”

Comments can be submitted to Cheshire East Council by February 1, ahead of a planning committee meeting in March.