The “ghastly” former British Homes Stores site in the heart of St Albans looks set to be replaced by a 130-bed hotel, after plans were backed by councillors.

Council officers had been concerned that the proposed five-storey hotel would be so high it would impact on the city’s historic skyline.

They were also concerned that the Peter Street site should be kept for retail space.

But members of St Albans District Council’s planning referrals committee also heard that there was a real need for hotel space in the city.

With the BHS building having been empty for two years, they also accepted that there may not be a need for such a large shop in the high street.

And they resolved that the application – subject to agreement on ‘pre-commencement conditions’ – could go ahead.

Speaking in favour of the application, Cllr Annie Brewster, who is responsible for culture and sport, said in these “challenging times” around half of all BHS stores remained empty nationwide.

And – pointing to evidence that shows people staying overnight spend five times more than day trippers – she said a lack of hotel space was hampering the growth of the city’s visitor economy.

She said two large hotels in Harpenden had been converted into residential use and hotels in St Albans were “frequently completely full”.

Highlighting a report by ‘Visit Herts’, she said St Albans attracted just six per cent of the county’s visitors.

And she said there was evidence that just 15 per cent of the city’s 1.8 million visitors stayed overnight – with the vast majority taking day trips instead.

Will Rohleder, associate director of applicants Reef Estates, said the hotel was a “viable future-proof solution” for the city centre.

He said the committee faced a choice between leaving the former BHS store to deteriorate further or supporting an application and bringing about a thriving and vibrant St Albans.

Mr Rohleder stressed to councillors that the height of the hotel would be no higher than the new Premier Inn in Adelaide Street.

And he said the plans had now been changed so that half of the Peter Street frontage would be for retail.

Recommending that councillors go against officers’ recommendation to refuse the application, Cllr Lyn Bolton said the empty building was a “blight on our main street”.

She said there had been no interest in the site from retailers and that a new hotel would create 60 jobs.

And she suggested that if was refused and it went to appeal there would be a high cost to the council, in financial terms and in reputation.

Cllr Sandra Wood said St Albans badly needed a hotel and that the proposed design was a vast improvement on what was currently there.

At times the building was described as “the ugliest building in town”.  But there was an appeal by Cllr David Yates for some of the distinctive columns to be reused within the building.

A change in government legislation means that developers must receive pre-commencement conditions at least 10 days before planning approval is granted.

As a result, they will now receive the conditions agreed by the committee. And if Reef Estates agrees – or after 10 days if no response is received – approval is expected to follow.

If there is no agreement the application will be reconsidered by the committee.