Councillors are set to reject plans to turn part of  a Woolwich building into a hotel – despite it already operating as one for more than a year.

Plans for a retrospective change for nine flats in Maritime House into a 24-bedroom hotel with a holiday let unit look likely to be blocked next week.

This is the second application councillors are debating, despite the hotel having already been up and running.

According to plans submitted earlier this year: “The hotel, the subject of this application at Maritime House, has been operating as a hotel since late 2017.

“Over this time, it has become a successful venture providing a very useful service to the community.”

Despite running without permission, the owners say they have seen an increasing number of bookings since 2018.

Officers are not convinced however, that a hotel is worthwhile enough to strip Woolwich of potential homes.

In a new report recommending councillors block the scheme, planners said: “In conclusion the principle of the retrospective application, it is not considered to be acceptable as it results in the loss of existing housing provision within the borough.

“Furthermore, the scheme fails to demonstrate that the subject building has

sufficient facilities and internal accessible arrangement to all members of the

community.”

Ward councillors Jackie Smith and John Fahy have registered objections to the plans, which will be debated at a meeting next Tuesday, July 23.