Carlisle aparthotel to double capacity

UK: The Halston Aparthotel in Carlisle is set to submit plans for a major expansion.

The Halston, in Warwick Road, is looking to implement phase three of its development on the site of the former Lonsdale cinema.

Director Simon Harrison said: "We are very close. The plans will be submitted within the next month."

The Halston opened in July 2014, transforming the former Crown Post Office into serviced accommodation. The owners then bought the neighbouring Lonsdale site, securing planning permission to build an extension.

The site already has planning consent for a three-storey building, housing shops on the ground floor, extra hotel accommodation above and parking at the rear. But The Halston want to amend the plan to build more serviced apartments.

"We want to reinstate the frontage. We gave a commitment to do that when we knocked the Lonsdale down. It's taken a bit of extra time to get the building right," said Harrison.

The original plans were for eight extra apartments, but they now want to up that to 19 - more than doubling the existing 16-room capacity.

If granted, it is hoped work could start in early 2017.

thehalston.com